Iraqi forces fired on US and British warplanes patrolling "no-fly" zones in northern and southern Iraq today, an Iraqi military spokesman said.
There was no immediate comment from Washington or London. The incidents happened as UN arms inspectors prepared to begin their first searches in four years tomorrow for illicit nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
The United States has said that Iraqi fire on its jets over the "no fly" zones may constitute a breach of this month's UN resolution 1441, under which Iraq must cooperate with the inspections or face the threat of war. Other members of the Security Council, including Britain, disagree with that view.
Flying from Turkey, a formation of planes flew 16 sorties starting at 10:50 a.m. (local time) over northern areas including Zakho and Arbil, the Iraqi spokesman said in a statement.
In the south, starting at 11:40 a.m., aircraft flew over several areas including al-Nasseriyeh and Samawa, he added. In both north and south, Iraqi air defence forces opened fire.
Iraq does not recognise the "no fly" zones set up after the 1991 Gulf War to protect Kurdish populations in the north and Shi'ite Muslims in the south. Incidents of firing on the US and British jets patrolling the zones are frequent.