There has been a skeptical reaction to the Iraqi offer inviting the chief UN weapons inspector to Baghdad for technical talks.
A spokesman for the a British Foreign Office said: "Saddam has a long history of playing games. As his track record shows, he does not deliver."
But in Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry hailed the announcement as an "important step in the right direction towards resolving the crisis through political and diplomatic means", based on UN Security Council resolutions.
Russia opposes a US military strike on Baghdad, branded by US President Mr George W Bush as part of an "axis of evil", and wants the country to allow weapons inspectors to return in exchange for a lifting of crippling UN economic sanctions.
Yesterday, Moscow and Beijing called for the UN Security Council to take the lead in settling the dispute over weapons production in Iraq.
China and Russia hold vetoes as permanent members of the Security Council, along with the United States, Britain and France.
In London, officials were not convinced Saddam's efforts were sincere.
"Iraq remains in breach of at least 23 of 27 separate obligations placed on it by the United Nations Security Council," the Foreign Office spokesman said.
"The requirement of Iraq is clear and unchanged: unfettered access for UN weapons inspectors - any time, any place, anywhere."
Last month, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Saddam's efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction posed a "gathering threat".
In the United States, Richard Grenell, the spokesman at the US mission to the United Nations, told the Washington Post he doubted Iraq's sincerity.
"The United States is always skeptical about Iraqi claims to comply with Security Council resolutions," he said. "But we would welcome any movement."
France cautiously welcomed Iraq's invitation, saying it hoped the offer would help kickstart the suspended UN inspection program.
"We support all efforts that might lead to Iraq respecting its obligations towards the United Nations Security Council," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Marie Masdupuy.
Last week, French President Jacques Chirac urged Iraq to allow weapons inspectors to return, putting further pressure on Saddam.