Iraq is seeking using all means to delay a US military strike it believes is imminent, even leaving the door ajar for the return of UN arms inspectors, something it completely ruled out not long ago. Pointing to Washington's declared aim of ousting President Saddam Hussein, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz argues that the inspectors' return will not necessarily dissuade the United States from going ahead with its anticipated attack. "The inspectors are not going to ... prevent the American aggression since the Americans are saying that their main objective in Iraq is to change the Government of Iraq," he told a European team on a solidarity visit to Baghdad. Washington's objective was the same between 1991 and 1998 when the inspectors were in Iraq, so if they return this will not prevent an American attack, Aziz insisted.

Iraq will resume talks with the United Nations next week under the threat of US military action if the arms inspectors are not allowed back into the country to verify Iraqi claims that it has no weapons of mass destruction. Foreign Minister Naji Sabri is due to meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York from May 1 to May 3 to discuss the eventual return of the inspectors, who have been barred from Iraq since pulling out on the eve of a December 1998 US-British bombing blitz. The two men already met on March 7th — their first talks in a little over a year.

Substantiating the view that Baghdad might readmit the arms inspectors, Aziz told a European delegation that Iraq was prepared to establish the truth about its arsenal. "If this (disarmament) is a genuine concern ... we are ready to find ways and means to clarify reality and convince the honest people and governments who are concerned about this." Aziz said the United States would have to "invade Iraq and fight every individual in it" in order to topple its regime. "This is very costly and they will realize they cannot do it," he added.

According to a Baghdad-based Western diplomat, the Iraqi government is bending to the storm in the hope of delaying the anticipated US strike, "because every year that passes (while it remains in power) is a plus. This is why they made concessions during the Arab summit" in Beirut at the end of March, the diplomat told AFP, referring to the thaw initiated at a meeting between representatives of Iraq on the one hand and of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on the other. "In a bid to ward off US threats," the Iraqis might accept "the principle of the inspectors' return" if it is agreed that details would be worked out at a later date. "When they are cornered, they do give," said the diplomat, requesting anonymity. He added: "The inspectors' return will not change the Americans' mind, but it might complicate their strategy. There is a US consensus on the need for a regime change in Iraq, and there's no stopping the steamroller moving towards that objective."

During their meeting in March, Sabri put to Annan 19 questions, mainly on disarmament issues and the contradiction between UN resolutions on Iraq and Washington's goal of overthrowing Saddam. The head of the UN arms inspectorate for Iraq, Hans Blix, and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammed Al Baradei, will attend Sabri's talks with Annan, suggesting the UN will try to address at least some of Iraq's questions. Before heading for New York, Sabri will visit Moscow, Baghdad's main ally among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and an avowed opponent of US military action against Iraq.