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Iraq agrees to destroy missiles - UN inspectors UPDATE



(Updating with further details.)

UNITED NATIONS (AFX) - Iraq wrote to chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix agreeing in principle to destroy its banned al-Samoud 2 missiles, Blix's office said.

The letter, signed by General Amir al-Saadi, chief scientific adviser to President Saddam Hussein, stated "in principle that Iraq accepts the request for the destruction of the missiles and other items listed," the office said.

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) "is in touch with the Iraqi authorities, through its offices in Baghdad and through the deputy executive chairman, who is currently in Baghdad to clarify this acceptance and to start destruction measures," the office said in a statement.

On Friday, Blix wrote to al-Saadi stating that the al-Samoud missiles were prohibited under Security Council resolutions and ordering the Iraqi government to make arrangements to begin their demolition under UNMOVIC supervision on March 1.

Blix noted that in test firings, the missiles had exceeded 150 kilometres (93 miles), the limit imposed by the council in Resolution 687, which defined the terms of the Gulf War ceasefire in April 1991.

Iraqi officials countered that the rockets used in the tests did not carry guidance systems or warheads, and said the range of a fully operational al-Samoud 2 would not breach the limit.

Resolution 687 did not specify whether the limit applied to a loaded or unloaded missile.

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