Iraq prepared today for the return of weapons inspectors after accepting unconditionally a UN resolution, but Washington warned war remains the alternative if the inspectors fail.
For Baghdad, however, the decision to accept Resolution 1441 must lead to the lifting of international sanctions that have crippled the country since it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
"By accepting to deal with Resolution 1441, Iraq has proven its good will ... and confirmed that our country is free of weapons of mass destruction," said the influential newspaper Babel, run by President Saddam Hussein's elder son Uday.
Babelwas the only newspaper to comment on Baghdad's announcement last night that it would "deal with" the resolution, which imposes harsh inspection terms on Iraq.
"Brotherly and friendly states must now put pressure on the Security Council to lift the sanctions after the truth that is known to all, which is that Iraq is free of mass destruction weapons, is confirmed," it added.
The world breathed a sigh of relief at the news, but scepticism over Baghdad's full co-operation remained as Washington kept up the hardline rhetoric.
"Iraq accepts the resolution, unreservedly, without conditions," Baghdad's ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Mohammed al-Douri said after delivering a letter from his government to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The letter, signed by Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, announced Iraq accepted Resolution 1441 and set no conditions for the return of inspectors due to get underway Monday.
"The issue is not acceptance, but performance on the ground," Mr Annan said at the White House after conferring with US President George W. Bush.
The next deadline facing President Saddam Hussein's regime is December 8th, when it must make a full, accurate and up-to-date declaration of its alleged progammes to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix and some of his staff are due at their staging post in Cyprus on Sunday before moving on to Iraq the following day to start their mission, an informed source in the Mediterranean island said.
AFP