February 25, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 23, 1423

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb 24: Stepping up pressure on Iraq chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, warned on Monday that Iraq must begin destroying its Al Samoud missiles by Saturday and he did not expect any more talks with Iraq on the issue.

“We have set a date for the commencement of the destruction of these missiles and we expect that to be respected,” Mr Blix told reporters as he began a meeting of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC).

When asked whether there would be any further negotiations with the Iraqi leadership on the missiles destruction, he said: “I do not expect that.”

“There will be a discussion about the pace in which the destruction will take place,” he said.

Last Friday Mr Blix ordered Baghdad to begin destroying the missiles, their warheads, engines, launchers and other components by Saturday (March 1) after concluding they exceeded the 90mile (150km) range set for Iraqi rockets by a Security Council resolution.

Destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missiles, which have a range that exceeds UN limits, would be a blow to Iraq as it prepares for a possible attack by the US forces.

If it does not destroy them, the United States and Britain could use this as a proof that Iraq is not cooperating with the United Nations and that war is justified.

Mr Blix said Iraq’s Al Samoud 2 missiles exceeded by 20miles (33km) the 90mile (150km) range set by the UN Security Council in a 1991 resolution.

He ordered Iraq to destroy not only the missiles, but their SA-2 engines, autopilots, guidance and control systems, launchers, fuel, oxidizer, casting chambers, equipment and components designed for production and testing as well as software and research used to construct the missiles.

Mr Blix plans to deliver on Monday and on Tuesday a list of more than 30 unresolved questions about Iraqi disarmament to his advisory board, called a College of Commissioners and composed of some 16 government officials and technical experts from around the world.

After meeting the commissioners, Mr Blix will submit a report to the Security Council in writing by Saturday. That will be followed by an oral presentation to the council, tentatively scheduled for March 7.