The United Nations is ready to send inspectors back into Iraq to check for weapons of mass destruction, but only on its terms, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said today.
"We are very eager to start inspections," said Blix in an interview with BBC television, after President Saddam Hussein's government this week sent new proposals to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
"However, you have to read the small print of any invitation," he said.
"It seems this was by no means a decision by the Iraqis to invite inspectors, but rather to suggest discussions on what issues were open in 1998" when UN arms inspectors were last in the country, he said.
"We have not been directed by the UN Security Council to do that."
Blix spoke from New York after Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri replied to a request from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asking Bagdhad to confirm its readiness to abide by all UN Security Councilresolutions.
UN officials said Annan was unlikely to respond to letter - which suggests "technical discussions ... to establish the groundwork for the next phase of monitoring and inspection" - before mid-week.
AFP