Iraq hand over papers on anthrax and missiles

UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has held a press conference after a second round of talks with Baghdad officials.

It is understood that Baghdad has now agreed to allow U2 surveillance flights over Iraq by the end of the week.

Blix said that the inspectors had also been given a number of papers over anthrax and missile issues and on VX, a chemical nerve agent.

Experts in New York tomorrow and Tuesday will be examining the official documents. Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix and UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed Elbaradei were holding a final day of talks with Baghdad officials in an effort to persuade them to provide more information on their disarmament programme.

The news comes as France, Germany, and Russia are preparing plans to avert a war with Iraq.