The United Nations chief inspector, Hans Blix, has ordered that Iraq destroys dozens of banned missiles, in what could be a key test of Baghdad's willingness to disarm. In a four-page letter, Mr Blix said Iraq must start destroying its liquid-fuel al-Samoud II missiles and its engines, warheads and component parts by 1 March. The missiles exceed the 150 kilometre (93 mile) range set by the UN after the 1991 Gulf War. Correspondents say the UN order presents Iraq with a dilemma: whether to give up a weapons system it could use against a US-led invasion, or refuse to comply and prompt the US to launch military action.
| Heh heh. Make up your mind, Sammy... |
Mr Blix handed the letter to Iraq's UN Ambassador Mohammed Al-Douri at UN headquarters in New York, where they met for more than an hour on Friday. "The appropriate arrangements should be made so that the destruction process can commence by 1 March," the letter said. That deadline is also the date Mr Blix is due to give his next report on Iraqi compliance to the UN Security Council.
| I love these unlikely coincidences... |
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