We sense a change of heart in Baghdad, says Blix

The top UN weapons inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed el-Baradei, sounded unusually optimistic last night as they emerged from talks with Iraqi officials, saying that they had perceived "the beginning of a change of heart" by Iraq.

But it remains to be seen whether documents given to United Nations inspectors, and Iraqi promises of better co-operation in volunteering information, are proof of a "drastic" change the UN says it needs.

Mr Blix, in charge of chemical, biological and missile inspections, and Mr el-Baradei, responsible for the nuclear sector, stressed that far more co-operation would be needed in the next 48 hours to convince the UN that the change of heart was not a ploy. Only five days remain before the two men are to deliver their next report to the UN Security Council. The issue of whether war is declared on Iraq rests on Friday's report.

During two days of "substantive" talks in Baghdad, the Iraqis provided new documents on outstanding issues such as Iraq's production of anthrax, VX nerve gas and ballistic missiles. The Iraqis also promised a response "before Friday" on granting UN demands that an American U-2 reconnaissance plane be allowed to fly over Iraqi sites.

In a further sign that Saddam Hussein may be yielding, the Iraqis also surrendered additional names of scientists whom the inspectors want to question in private. In December, Iraq submitted a list of 400 names of scientists and others involved in past programmes but the UN said it was incomplete.

Although the Iraqi moves are seen as new concessions, they are a response to long-standing UN demands, which include legislation being adopted by Iraq that would outlaw the production of weapons of mass destruction.