UN inspectors comb Iraqi weapons sites

United Nations arms inspectors are continuing their search for banned weapons of mass destruction.

United Nations arms inspectors are continuing their search for banned weapons of mass destruction.

Experts from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) searched at least eight sites today, Iraqi officials said.

UNMOVIC missile teams visited four sites today - al-Amin missile factory in Falluja northwest of Baghdad; al-Mutasim company, 55 miles south of Baghdad; the Ibn al-Haithem military compound and a private company in Taji, north of Baghdad.

A report to the UN Security Council on Friday by chief weapons inspectors Mr Hans Blix and Mr Mohamed El-Baradei said Baghdad was stepping up co-operation with the inspectors.

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But Mr Blix also said engine design documents showed Al Samoud missiles could fly around 25 miles over the allowed range of 93 miles.

Joint UNMOVIC and IAEA teams went to al-Muthanna, Um al-Marek and al-Nida military compounds and to an undisclosed site in Samaraa, north of Baghdad.

Iraq has conceded on three sticking points that won it some credit in Mr Blix's latest report to the UN. It enforced a law banning any dealing in weapons of mass destruction or materials used in them, it agreed to private interviews with scientists; and it allowed surveillance flights by U-2 spy planes over its territory.