Iraq 'unconditionally' accepts UN resolution

Iraq bowed to the threat of military invasion by America and Britain yesterday and offered its unconditional acceptance of a United Nations resolution giving it a final chance to disarm. Simultaneously, the Baghdad regime protested that it had nothing to hide from weapons inspectors, raising doubts on its sincerity.

Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammed al-Douri, told reporters: "We are prepared to receive the inspectors within the assigned timetable. We are eager to see them perform their duties in accordance with international law as soon as possible."

Iraq's acceptance, which was also reported on Iraqi television, was set out in a nine-page letter to Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general.

But the spectre of war remains, thanks to a simultaneous claim by Mr Douri that Iraq is "clean" and is not concealing any banned weaponry, contrary to evidence gleaned by British and American intelligence. "Iraq has not and will not have any mass destruction weapons," he said.

This sets the stage for a crisis as early as 8 December, the date by which Iraq is obliged to submit a full disclosure of its biological and chemical weapons and details of remaining long-range missiles and its nuclear programme. An assertion of innocence is likely to convince Washington that Baghdad is again defying the UN, which could speed the momentum towards military action.

Iraq's response, delivered just 24 hours after its parliament voted overwhelmingly to reject the resolution, thus drew a guarded British and American reaction.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said: "Iraq has now taken the first step. I welcome that. But we must remain vigilant. Iraq's intentions are notoriously changeable."

Scott McClellan, a White House spokesman, said: "We've heard this before from Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime. Now we need to see it by Saddam Hussein's actions."

President Bush, speaking before Iraq delivered its response, warned that America would "not tolerate any deception, denial or deceit".

In his letter to Mr Annan, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, lashed out at the "lies and manipulations of the American administration and the British government". Iraqi TV showed President Saddam meeting his aides, dressed in civilian clothes and smiling.

American and British stock markets rose on the news of the Iraqi acceptance, as hopes grew that military action would be delayed or avoided.