IRAQ: Iraq said last night UN weapons inspectors were holding their first private interview with an Iraqi scientist linked to previous banned weapons programmes.
Private interviews have been a major sticking point between chief inspectors and Iraq.
The move will be welcomed by the UN weapons inspectors, Dr Hans Blix and Dr Muhammad ElBaradei, who yesterday warned Iraq it must drastically improve co-operation on disarmament or face an unfavourable judgment in a report to world powers next week.
Iraqi presidential adviser Gen Amir al-Saadi rebutted comments by the US Secretary of State at the UN on Wednesday.
"Due to the circumstances that are now prevailing and the tension, some of our scientists came back and said we don't insist on witnesses and one of them today, in fact, as I'm speaking, is being interviewed alone," Gen Saadi said.
A UN spokesman, Mr Hiro Ueki, said: "I can confirm that we had requested a private interview at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) this evening."
Inspectors had interviewed a few scientists since they resumed work in Iraq in November but the individuals always insisted on the presence of an Iraqi minder.
After meeting the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in London, Dr Blix and Dr ElBaradei said a weekend mission to Baghdad was crucial.
"The message coming from the (UN) Security Council is very clear, that Iraq is not co-operating fully, that they need to show drastic change in terms of co-operation," Dr ElBaradei said.
"The message also coming from the Security Council is that time is very critical and that we need to show progress in our report, which will be due on the 14th of this month."
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said Iraq was teetering on the brink. "It is Saddam Hussein and his regime which is in the dock," he said after talks with his Iranian counterpart. "If this goes on, the Security Council will have to face up to its responsibilities."
But Mr Straw dismissed French calls to give more weight to the weapons inspections process.
"The issue . . . is not one of more time for the inspectors nor more inspectors, it is about more, much, much more co-operation from the Iraqi regime," he said.
Dr ElBaradei, who last month said his International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needed a few more months to complete its work in Iraq, now said time was running short. "Our mission in Baghdad this weekend is crucial. We hope we will secure full 100 per cent co-operation," he said.
Dr Blix also said Iraq had not shown enough support to the inspectors and warned that without a sudden change of heart, next week's report to the Security Council would be damning.
"What has not worked is for the Iraqi side either to present prohibited items for destruction or present evidence that they are finished," Dr Blix told reporters after talks with Mr Blair.
"We hope at this late hour . . . that they will come to a positive response. If they do not do that then our report next Friday will not be what we would like it to be."
At a meeting of its ambassadors, NATO failed again yesterday to agree backing for US-led action against Iraq - mostly involving boosting defences for Turkey - in a move further underlining the alliance's split over a threatened war.
But the NATO Secretary-General, Mr George Robertson, expressed confidence that the 19-nation military alliance would finally secure an agreement next week, after France, Germany and Belgium once again held up a deal.
Germany continued to appeal for a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis yesterday, despite new US charges about Baghdad's arms, rejecting as "rubbish" US goading that its anti-war stance put it on a par with Libya and Cuba.
The chief government spokesman, Mr Bela Anda, said Germany was concerned about evidence presented by Mr Colin Powell to the Security Council, which, Washington says, proves Iraq is concealing banned weapons.
But he said Germany still sought a peaceful resolution to the dispute and supported French proposals to intensify weapons inspections in Iraq, saying inspectors must have more time.- (Reuters)