Iraqis make conciliatory moves in bid to prevent war

IRAQ promised UN weapons inspectors more help yesterday, saying it was even forming its own teams to search for banned weapons.

After two days of talks with chief UN arms inspectors, held as US and British leaders warned Iraq was on course for war, Baghdad's officials were eager to appear conciliatory.

President Saddam Hussein's adviser Amir al-Saadi read a joint statement at a news conference in Baghdad with visiting inspection chiefs Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei.