Key developments concerning Iraq
( 2003-02-15 10:27 ) (7 )

Developments in the Iraq crisis:

Chief inspector Hans Blix told the UN Security Council his team has not found any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but many banned weapons remain unaccounted for. Chief nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei told the council that inspectors have found no evidence Iraq had resumed its nuclear weapons program.

France, China and Russia, which have veto powers in the council, later demanded more time for the inspections. Secretary of State Colin Powell pressed reluctant allies to threaten force if Iraq does not disarm, and said the world should not be taken in by "tricks that are being played on us." But only Spain and Britain spoke up for the US position.

Hours before the UN presentations, Saddam Hussein decreed a ban on all weapons of mass destruction from Iraq, a longtime UN demand. The White House scoffed at the announcement. Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, said Baghdad would do "whatever is possible" to cooperate with inspectors.

Pope John Paul II told Aziz that the Vatican opposed war against Baghdad but insisted that Saddam in demonstrate "concrete commitments" to disarm.

Iraq decided to give up its turn to take up the rotating presidency of the world's top disarmament forum, a prospect that had prompted strong US opposition, the United Nations said.

Italy said it has given the United States permission to use its ports, highways and other infrastructure for any transport needs in a possible war against Iraq.

Muslims from around the world prayed for peace and spoke out against US plans for war before setting out for home from Mecca after their pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site.

The UN refugee agency said war could result in 600,000 people fleeing for the border, creating a crisis that could cost the international community $60 million in the first week alone.

Inspection teams returned to Iraq's al-Muthanna chemical weapons installation, where they have been destroying artillery shells and neutralizing four plastic containers filled with mustard gas. They also visited a mineral water plant.

US fighter planes bombed a mobile surface-to-air missile system near Basra in southern Iraq - the third strike in that area this week by planes enforcing a "no fly" zone.

The US government expelled an Iraqi journalist who covers the United Nations for the official Iraqi News Agency, saying he is "harmful" to the security of the United States, the journalist and US officials said.