Baghdad seeks peaceful resolution after Blix demands destruction of al-Samoud missiles

Iraq is "studying" an order for the UN-supervised destruction of missiles, to start by Saturday, in a crucial test of President Saddam Hussein's willingness fully to co-operate with UN disarmament demands.

Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, sent a letter to the Iraqis on Friday calling for the destruction of the al-Samoud-2 missiles, which have an illegal range. A panel of international experts determined that Iraqi tests of the missiles had exceeded the 150km (93-mile) range permitted by the UN. Mr Blix had earlier informed the UN Security Council that at least one rocket had been test-fired with a range of 183km.

The order to destroy the rockets is a blow to the Iraqi leader, who may attempt to stall rather than implement it immediately. In an effort to persuade the UN weapons inspectors that the al-Samoud programme did not violate UN rules, the Iraqis staged a test firing yesterday.

Iraq's chief liaison officer to the inspectors, Lieutenant-General Hossam Mohamed Amin, refused to answer directly whether the regime would observe the UN deadline for the destruction to begin. But, he said: "We are serious about solving this. This issue is under deep and comprehensive study from the Iraqi side, and we hope it will be resolved peacefully, without the interference of others, particularly the Americans."

Lt-Gen Amin also played down the effect that blowing up the missiles would have on Iraq's military capability. "Destroying these missiles will affect our defence capabilities but would not completely terminate them."

Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, said he was confident that Iraq would comply with the deadline. "If they refused to destroy the weapons, the Security Council will have to make a decision," he said during a visit to Turkey. "I don't see why they would not destroy them."

President George Bush said: "If Iraq decides to destroy the weapons that were long-range weapons, that's just the tip of the iceberg. My question is, why don't they destroy every ... illegal weapon?"