Chief UN weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix cast doubt today on the significance of some intelligence information offered by US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Iraq's weapons programs.
He told the UN Security Council that two satellite images Mr Powell showed to the council on February 5th did not prove that Iraq was clearing the site of forbidden munitions.
"The reported movement of munitions at the site could just as easily have been a routine activity as a movement of proscribed munitions in anticipation of an imminent inspection," Dr Blix reported to the council.
He said he welcomed intelligence from governments such as the United States but said, "inspectors, for their part, must base their reports only on evidence, which they can, themselves, examine and present publicly. Without evidence, confidence cannot arise."