British Prime Minister Tony Blair will today meet chief weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix as world leaders digest US evidence against Iraq.
A spokesman for Mr Blair said the prime minister and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw would meet Dr Blix and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr Mohamed El Baradei, at Downing Street.
Mr Blair and Mr Straw are expected to get an early indication from the two weapons inspectors how they regarded the American case for military action against Iraq.
They are also likely to discuss the need for greater Iraqi co-operation when the inspectors return to Baghdad on Saturday.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell presented tape recordings, satellite photographs and intelligence data to the United Nations Security Council yesterday, which he said showed Iraq's "evasion and deception".
He warned the UN against any further delay in tackling what he called Baghdad's chemical, biological and nuclear ambitions.
Although his presentation convinced many that Saddam Hussein's government fell far short of compliance, few suggested Iraq presented a big enough threat to warrant war.