Blix to stand down as head of UN weapons inspectors

Dr Hans Blix will stand down as chief UN weapons inspector when his contract runs out in June, his spokesman said this evening.

"Dr Blix will not look to renew its contract when it expires at the end of June," spokesman Ewen Buchanan said.

"It was a particular phase in this exercise and if there is to be a new phase then somebody else should take it on."

"He was not a volunteer and frankly speaking he hoped to be out of here one year ago," the spokesman added.

Blix, a 72-year-old Swede, was named to the post in April 2000.