More Missiles Destroyed as Iraq Complies with U.N.

Iraq destroyed a further six al-Samoud 2 ballistic missiles on Sunday, bringing the total eliminated to ten. Saddam Hussein's regime began dismantling the weapons on Saturday in accordance with a U.N. deadline set by Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix.

Blix welcomed the destruction as "a very significant piece of real disarmament." He had previously demanded concrete proof of the destruction of the missiles from Baghdad. The U.N. said the missiles’ 150 km (93 mile) range exceeded the U.N. limit set in 1991. Iraq has between 100 and 120 such missiles according to the international body.

The missiles are being dealt with in the rocket center al-Taji, north of Bagdad, in the presence of U.N. weapons inspectors.

Slow-going disarmament

The destruction of the missiles is progressing more slowly than expected, U.N. inspector team leader Dimitri Perricos said. Despite reports to the contrary, the inspectors did not agree on a schedule for destroying the missles with the Iraqi authorities, Perricos maintained. He estimated that Iraq will have completed the destruction within two weeks.

Iraq is crushing the weapons with bulldozers, although the inspectors had suggested it blow up the weapons, since "it is faster," according to Perricos. The owners, however, may determine how they wish to eliminate the missiles.

Besides the al-Samoud 2 missiles, the U.N. has demanded that Iraq destroy al-Samoud missile fuel, about 380 missiles engines and all components associated with the engine.

Iraq also allowed weapons inspectors to interrogate a biologist and a missile expert without Iraqi supervision. The U.N. team had previously demanded it be allowed to interview Iraqi scientists in private. In addition, the inspectors have arranged to meet with Iraqi experts to discuss the whereabouts of nerve gas and anthrax.

Hopes for resolution

Iraq’s unexpected compliance with U.N. demands has raised hopes in Europe that the conflict over the country's disarmament may still be resolved by peaceful means.

Russia and Germany have welcomed Baghdad’s decision to comply with the weapons inspectors' requirements, while on Sunday French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin (photo) again emphasized that France would reject a second resolution authorizing a military strike against Iraq in the U.N. Security Council.

Paris and Berlin are united in the view that war can yet be avoided and are attempting to block a U.S.-led military strike against Iraq with a plan of extending U.N. inspections.

The U.S., however, has denounced Iraq's compliance as propaganda and a smokescreen to hide Saddam's unwillingness to fully disarm. British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said Baghdad was making the concessions in an aim to divide the international community.

Meanwhile, the British weekly The Observer reported on Sunday that the U.S. is conducting a campaign focused on U.N. Security Council delegations in New York to win votes in favor of a war against Iraq.

The paper printed a memorandum it says was leaked by a top official at the U.S. National Security Agency calling for agents to intercept the phone calls and e-mails of key Security Council members. The Observer says the operation was requested by President George W. Bush's National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and intended to supply U.S. policymakers with information they could use to win support for the U.S. position against Iraq in the Security Council.