Iraq rejects Britain's 'aggressive' proposals

Iraq rejected the conditions that Britain wants to impose on Saddam Hussein's government for a second UN resolution yesterday.

Revelling in the confusion generated by divisions within the Security Council, Baghdad abandoned its hitherto cautious approach to denounce the proposals as a "cover for aggression".

Naji Sabri, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, said the proposals were "an attempt to beautify a rejected aggressive project". He added: "Tony Blair is trying to polish this project, which has been rejected by the majority of the Security Council members. We reject any project contrary to resolutions already adopted by the Security Council. The US want cover for aggression. I don't think the United States will succeed."

Iraq's ruling elite appears to believe the debacle at the Security Council has helped in its attempt to delay an invasion.

The newspaper Babil, owned by President Saddam's son Uday, said: "It is obvious that Bush and Blair have lost the round before it starts while we, along with well-intentioned powers in the world, have won it. Blair's future is at stake now, and his downfall will be a harsh lesson in Britain's political history."

In an unexpected move, Iraq postponed a planned visit by an Arab League peace mission, which called the decision "negative and ill-timed".

In a further sign of imminent conflict, the United Nations withdrew its observers from the Iraqi side of the border with Kuwait. A UN spokesman, Daljeet Bagga, said the move was a "precautionary step".

UN aid workers in Iraq have also begun to leave. But arms inspectors from Unmovic (the UN Monitoring and Verification Commission) continued with their work yesterday. Under their supervision Iraq destroyed six more al-Samoud 2 missiles, bringing the numbers to half of its stock of 120.

Seven embassies – Russia, China, India, France, Vietnam, Cuba and Pakistan – have remained open in Baghdad, but with skeleton staff.