Iraqi efforts to disarm have been "very limited", according to the chief United Nations weapons inspector, Dr Hans Blix, whose latest report is due to be presented to the Security Council tomorrow.
The judgment, which will harden the resolve of those pushing for military action against the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, is contained in a draft of his report, obtained by the BBC World Service radio station.
"Iraq could have made greater efforts to find any remaining proscribed items or provide credible evidence showing the absence of such items," Dr Blix is quoted as concluding. "The results, in terms of disarmament, have been very limited so far."
Iraq is due to begin destroying its al-Samoud 2 missile system tomorrow because it is illegal under existing UN restrictions. Dr Blix notes that Iraq did not "make full use" of its arms declaration of last December.
President Bush said yesterday that President Saddam's approach to the rockets was "part of his campaign of deception".