Effort to destroy Iraqi missiles almost falls at the first hurdle

It was supposed to be the day when Iraq demonstrated it was disarming, but it soon degenerated into the confusion, with touches of farce, that has characterised much of the United Nations weapons inspectors' mission in Iraq since they returned four months ago.

Last night Demetrius Perricos, the head of Unmovic, the UN monitoring and verification commission, announced that the destruction of Iraq's al-Samoud 2 missiles had begun – but instead of four, the inspectors had succeeded in wrecking only one. Apparently the casing was too thick, and a heavier bulldozer had to be brought in. The UN has agreed a timetable with Iraq for the destruction of the remaining 119-odd (the inspectors' estimate – Baghdad claims about 72), with their accompanying equipment, motors, blueprints and production line, but if yesterday was any guide, the project may take longer than expected.

Having, with their usual attempt at brinkmanship, waited until the final day of the UN deadline to start the destruction of the missiles, the Iraqis were eager for their moment of compliance to be recorded by the world's media. But Mr Perricos had insisted that the operation should be carried out privately, and thus began the now familiar show of journalists chasing him and his inspectors around Baghdad and beyond while alarmed pedestrians dived for cover.

A Greek who led the first team of UN inspectors into Iraq following the first Gulf War, Mr Perricos has had his initial enthusiasm for the new mission, armed with a stronger mandate, gradually dissipated in the face of continuous sniping from Washington and the knowledge that it has become a sideshow while America prepares for war.

But returning to Baghdad after a two-month break, he began yesterday with a meeting with Lieutenant General Amar al-Saadi, the urbane British-educated chief weapons adviser to Saddam Hussein. An hour and a half later he returned to his headquarters at the Canal Hotel, followed by 20 carloads of reporters and cameramen.

Just before 1pm the UN convoy of seven vehicles with their Iraqi minders set off, followed by the media, for their "secret" destination: the Al-Taji camp, north of Baghdad. On the way were forebodings of the now seemingly inevitable conflict, trainloads of armour and artillery heading south-east towards Basra.

The UN has ordered the al-Samoud missiles to be destroyed because their range exceeds the prescribed limit of 93 miles. The process involves removing the rocket motor and warhead from each missile for crushing, and then cutting up the body of the missile, which is based on the old Scud system.

The media were kept out by the soldiers guarding the vast, sprawling complex, and they were also quick to turn away four large trucks which arrived soon afterwards, carrying rocket launchers. Trucks were also coming out of the complex, carrying, among other items, dozens of beds, mattresses and rolls of barbed wire, a sign of soldiers being relocated as Iraq prepares for an American-led invasion.

These were followed soon afterwards by soldiers, hundreds of them, emptying the camp. Most of them were young recruits who served from eight in the morning until two in the afternoon before returning home to their families.

"Well, we can expect the Americans to attack at 2.05 then", said a reporter. "The Iraqis will be off by then." The soldiers gave victory signs as they trotted out, chanting: "My blood, my spirit, I shall die for you O Saddam." But they were anything but menacing, apologising profusely when they knocked into photographers, smiles rather than scowls on their faces. Selim, who looked all of 17, said he would have liked to have met young British soldiers under different circumstances.

Hans Blix, the UN chief weapons inspector, described the Iraqi agreement to start scrapping the missiles as a "significant piece of real disarmament". But Washington and London have predictably dismissed it as " propaganda".

The war will start soon, undoubtedly long before all the al-Samouds have been destroyed, and among the casualties will be some of these young recruits at Al-Taji.