US: The White House has dismissed Iraq's offer to allow US inspectors to search its weapons sites and warned Baghdad to obey UN resolutions on ending its weapons programmes or risk US military action.
Asked about Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Mr Abdul Tawab Mullah Hwaish's offer yesterday for Americans to tour suspected weapons sites, White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer replied: "This is not up to Iraq. This is up to the United Nations.
"The only question that remains is what terms would inspectors go back in under so they can do an effective job," the spokesman added.
Iraq's invitation to visit weapons sites, similar to one issued to the US Congress two months ago that was rejected, came after President Bush pledged to use the "full force and fury" of the US military if necessary to make Iraq disarm.
"The American administration are invited to inspect these [alleged weapons] sites immediately," said Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, who is also responsible for the country's weapons programmes.
Speaking at a Baghdad news conference, he also reaffirmed Iraq's acceptance that UN weapons inspectors could return. They would find that Iraq had no nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, he said.
"As I am responsible for the Iraqi weapons programmes I confirm here that we have no weapons of mass destruction and we have no intention to produce them," he said.
He urged UN weapons inspectors to resume their inspections in Iraq.
"If the American administration are looking for the truth, they should allow the inspectors to come back to Iraq and inspect these sites which they claim are producing weapons of mass destruction," he added.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, flew to Moscow yesterday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "sensitive" to Moscow's big economic interests in Iraq.
Mr Blair is seeking to secure Moscow's backing for a tough UN stance against Iraq.
Speaking to reporters as he flew into Moscow, Mr Blair denied there was a "price-tag" for Moscow's support on the United Nations Security Council, where Russia has veto powers. - (Reuters)