Baghdad warns UN it is acting 'contrary to the law'

Fears grew yesterday that the weapons inspection process in Iraq might quickly unravel, giving Washington grounds to demand military action.

The concern stemmed from a closer reading of the letter Iraq delivered to Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary general, on Wednesday. The letter accepts a UN resolution, passed unanimously by the Security Council last week, demanding that it disarm and accept inspectors.

But the missive, penned by Naji Sabri, Iraq's Foreign Minister, is laced with admonitions to the inspectors to respect Iraqi sovereignty. An advance team, headed by Hans Blix, chief UN inspector, and by Mohammed al-Baradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will arrive in Baghdad on Monday.

Mr Sabri warned: "Dealing with the inspectors, the government of Iraq will also take into consideration their way of conduct, the intentions of those who are ill-intentioned amongst them, and their improper approach in showing respect to the people's national dignity, their independence and security."

And the letter came with a sting in the tail. Mr Sabri served notice that he would be dispatching a follow-up letter to Mr Annan highlighting the "measures and procedures" outlined in the Security Council resolution that Iraq considers to be "contrary to international law" and the UN charter.

Mr Annan was unwilling to say whether the dark language used by the Iraqis was "an indication that they are going to play games", when questioned by journalists in Washington. He said: "I think the issue is not their acceptance, but performance on the ground. So let the inspectors go in, and I urge the Iraqis to co-operate with them and to perform."

Both sides are mindful of the confrontations that quickly arose when inspectors went about their mission during the 1990s and especially the claims made by Iraq – proved later to be well founded – that the CIA was piggy-backing on the UN inspectors.

There were also fresh signs yesterday that Iraq may again try to drive a wedge between members of the Security Council. The first test might come on 8 December when Iraq is obliged to account for all of its weapons programmes. If it reiterates claims made in the letter of acceptance that it has no such weapons, Washington may interpret that as non-compliance and press other UN members to sanction war.

In a foretaste of possible Iraqi tactics at that moment, the Iraqi newspaper Babil, owned by President Saddam's son Uday, warned that Baghdad's crisis with the United States "is not over yet and may have just started". Moreover, it called on Security Council members France, Russia and China to support Iraq.

* Tony Blair made a radio broadcast to the people of Iraq last night in an effort to rally them against President Saddam's "brutal and oppressive" regime. He warned that war was likely if the UN demands for disarmament were ignored. Mr Blair's message came in an interview with Radio Monte Carlo, the most popular station broadcasting into Iraq.

The weapons

NUCLEAR
Iraq is suspected of seeking black-market uranium or plutonium to manufacture a nuclear weapon. Some intelligence sources believe it could produce such a warhead within a year.

BIOLOGICAL
Iraq might have a stockpile including 150 aerial bombs and 25ballistic missile warheads. It has not accounted for 17 tons of biological growth media. Iraq might have mobile production facilities and sprayers attached to aircraft. It might hold the smallpox virus and have the facilities to produce toxins including anthrax and botulinum.

CHEMICAL
Iraq is believed to have precursor chemicals to produce large quantities of mustard gas, VX gas and other nerve agents which could be delivered on al-Hussein ballistic missiles. It is thought to be rebuilding dual-use production facilities capable of manufacturing chemical agents previously bombed by allies.

BALLISTIC
Iraq might still hold several prohibited al-Hussein missiles (modified Scuds) with a range of 400 miles.