Washington, Nov 30: Iraq is giving red carpet treatment to UN arms inspectors, greatly complicating the Bush administration's plan to invade it on the ground that Saddam Hussein will not come clean on his weapons of mass destruction, according to US media. "Now that inspectors have returned after a four-year absence for a mission that could determine whether the United States launches military action aimed at toppling President Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader appears to have pressed the mute button on the usual rhetoric. The new message is cooperation," the Washington Post said.

It said: "On Wednesday and Thursday, the first two days of resumed inspections, the UN experts who set off in their white vehicles and baby-blue hats to search for evidence that Iraq has developed or is developing weapons of mass destruction were received in a way their predecessors never were.
"The gates to research complexes and arms factories swung open without delay. Solicitous Iraqi officials let the inspectors poke around, take samples and leaf through documents. The director of an engineering centre proudly proclaimed to reporters that he was pleased to receive the inspectors."
Baffled US officials told reporters that Iraq has moved its weapons programmes out of facilities known to the inspectors into new types of structures, including underground bunkers and mobile units. It was also suggested that Hussein has hidden his weapons in private houses.


Bureau Report