Iraq has agreed to a resumption of UN weapons inspections, with an advance team of inspectors due in about two weeks. Chief UN weapons inspector, Mr Hans Blix said Iraq had agreed on the logistics of resuming the inspections under UN Security Council rules.
“The Iraqi representatives declared that Iraq accepts all rights of inspection provided for in all the relevant Security Council resolutions,” Blix told reporters after two days of talks in Vienna aimed at returning inspectors to Baghdad for the first time since 1998.
Blix said the deal did not change existing special rules on access to eight Iraqi presidential palaces.
"On the question of access, it was clarified that all sites are subject to immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access. However, the memorandum of understanding of 1998 establishes special procedures for access to eight presidential sites," Blix told reporters.
The Iraqi delegation leader, President Saddam Hussein's technical adviser Amir al-Saadi, said he was happy with the agreement and that the talks were business-like and focused.
"We expect an advance team of inspectors in Baghdad in about two weeks," he said.
Earlier today however, US President George W Bush said he wanted the United Nations Security Council to approve a single “strong, new resolution” aimed at disarming Iraq.
Saying that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in the past agreed to abide by UN resolutions only to flout them, Bush said: “There needs to be a strong, new resolution for us not to fall into the same trap."
Earlier the United States told UN weapons inspectors to put any mission to Iraq on hold until the UN Security Council finishes talks on a new resolution on action against Baghdad.
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell's appeal last night overshadowed the UN/Iraq talks in Vienna.
Mr Powell said on US television that chief UN weapons inspector Mr Hans Blix had done a good job in pulling together inspectors ready to go Iraq.
"But I think also he will have to wait and see whether or not the United Nations Security Council comes up with new guidance or additional resolutions that might require him to modify his plan," he said.
Mr Powell said those involved in the inspections issue must see "how things develop over the next couple of weeks" with a proposed UN Security Council resolution that could spell out future action against Baghdad.
AFP/Reuters