Iraqi missiles break sanctions, say United Nations weapons experts

The United Nations concluded yesterday that Iraq has violated sanctions by developing a missile capable of travelling beyond the maximum range set down in Security Council resolutions.

The conclusion, which is certain to be seized upon by Washington as offering a concrete reason for going to waragainst Baghdad, was reached after a two-day conference of missile technology experts in New York. The panel was convened by the chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix.

Iraq told the inspectors about the Al Samoud missiles in October, and admitted that in testing, 13 out of 40 missiles fired had gone beyond the UN-allowed 150km-range limit. The findings confirm that Iraq has defied the sanctions, the experts said. They told Mr Blix that the missiles and the engines that propel them should be destroyed.

Mr Blix will include the panel's conclusion in his crucial report to the Security Council on inspections tomorrow.

The main focus of inspections in Iraq remains unaccounted-for chemical and biological materials,but the missile finding will help the United States as it tries to persuade the UN Security Council to pass a new resolution that will open the way to military force.

Condoleezza Rice, US President Bush's national security adviser yesterday pressed Mr Blix to make clear in his key reportthat Iraq has not disarmed as it is supposed to under resolution 1441.

The US and Britain yesterday made clear that even without a new resolution, they would take military action.

On Capitol Hill, the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, told a House Committee that the "moment of truth" was fast approaching.

* France yesterday shot down a compromise aimed at breaking Nato's deadlock over protection for Turkey in case of a war on Iraq, dashing hopes for an early end to the alliance's damaging crisis.