Blix orders destruction of Iraqi Al Samoud missiles

Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has ordered Iraq to destroy dozens of its missiles with ranges that violate UN limits, and gave Baghdad a March 1 deadline to begin the demolition.

His demand that Iraq eliminate the Al Samoud 2 missile system will test Baghdad’s willingness to disarm as negotiations for possible war enter a crucial stage. Washington has strongly pushed for the destruction of the missiles and all their components.