Ex-Iraq weapons inspector seeks decisive UN action

Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq cannot be "bombed away", a former chief United Nations weapons inspector warned today.

Rolf Ekeus said the five permanent members of the UN Security Council needed to have a "decisive attitude" to get weapons inspectors back into the country.

Asked on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme about the justification for military action in Iraq, he said: "The wisest thing, the important thing is to get rid of the weapons.

"I cannot see how we can bomb away the weapons.

"The only effective way is to restore a viable inspection regime in the country which requires in my mind decisive attitude by the five permanent Security Council members and especially strong leadership by the United States."