Blix: Iraq still not committed to disarming

Iraq has still not committed to disarming, the chief UN arms inspector said as the deeply divided Security Council prepared to discuss a draft resolution that would authorise war against Saddam Hussein.

But Hans Blix appeared to push for more weapons inspections as the council members got ready for today’s closed-door meeting in New York. They will also discuss a French-Russian-German proposal which aims to stave off a conflict and prolong inspections until at least July 1.

US President George Bush has warned that while the Iraqi regime still has time to avoid a war, US troops are ready for battle. “The danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or wished away.”

The US-British-Spanish draft resolution authorising war was presented earlier this week.

There were some signs Bush was gaining support for military action, including indications that Mexico had changed its strong anti-war stance and was now preparing to back the US-driven resolution.

But there were also signs that some undecided council members were pushing for a Canadian plan aimed at reconciling bitter differences between the US plan and the French-led proposal.

The Canadian plan would give Iraq until the end of March to complete a list of disarmament tasks that Blix’s office is compiling.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the proposal “only procrastinates on a decision we all should be prepared to take”.

Meanwhile, State Department officials continued to press Bush’s case in world capitals, and some US officials said intense negotiations to stave off a veto from Russia had yielded some results.

The administration may have won new ammunition for its position from Blix.

The chief inspector said Baghdad has not taken “a fundamental decision” to disarm.

He welcomed recent Iraqi letters that contained new information about its weapons programmes, but said they did not represent “full co-operation or a breakthrough”.

Nonetheless, he noted that inspections resumed only in November after a four-year break and asked: “Is it the right time to close the door?”

Blix’s 17-page report was delivered to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan last night, who will then send it on to the Security Council.

The report includes sections on staffing, training, ground inspections and aerial inspections conducted with American made U-2 spy planes and French Mirage jets.

Asked whether there was any evidence Iraq wants to disarm, Blix said: “I do not think I can say there is evidence of a fundamental decision, but there is some evidence of some increased activity.”

He said an important test of Iraq’s co-operation will be whether Saddam complies with the order to start destroying his Al Samoud Two missiles by Saturday.

A panel of international experts said earlier this month that the missiles exceed the UN limit of 93 miles imposed after the 1991 Gulf War.