New proposal over weapons inspectors

Details of an agreement to allow United Nations' weapons inspectors to return to Iraq in an attempt to head off war with America and Britain emerged from a late-night meeting between Saddam Hussein's deputy, Tariq Aziz, and a leading British academic.

On the eve of President Bush's speech to the UN today Dr Toby Dodge, Britain's leading expert on Iraq, was told the Iraqis were working on a proposal which would allow weapons inspectors to return after four years - but with curbs on their activities to stop them spying on Iraq for an American administration already pledged to toppling Saddam.

In a 90-minute meeting Mr Aziz, Iraq's deputy prime minister, was "charming and very relaxed" Dr Dodge said.

However, there is no mistaking the sense of urgency which lies behind the latest Iraqi proposals, to be put to Saddam for his approval during the next 48 hours.

The key to getting the Iraqi leader to agree to a scheme which would bring back the UN inspectors is the introduction of a top-level diplomat or government official from a country seen by the Iraqis as an "honest broker". South Africa and Canada were suggested, Dr Dodge said.

Anxious to head off a new UN Security Council resolution proposed by the US which could include a demand to allow inspectors into Iraq, backed by armed troops who would shoot their way in if the Iraqis failed to co-operate, the Iraqis want the curbs placed on the inspectors' activities.

Scott Ritter, the former head of the inspectors until they were pulled out of Iraq in 1998, has since admitted he worked for the CIA and shared information with Israel's secret service Mossad while serving under the UN's blue banner.

Dr Dodge, the Iraq expert at the Royal Institute for International Affairs, said: "Aziz pointed out that the US doesn't know where Iraq's tanks are now, but said, 'they'll know if the inspectors come back'."

Today Naji Sabri al Hadithi, Iraq's foreign minister, was en route to Canada for urgent talks and to seek backing from foreign minister Bill Graham.

Dr Dodge, who also met Sabri, said it was clear the Iraqis were working on a "face saving formula which also protected their own security in the face of threats from the US" and allow weapons inspectors back, but under the control of an official who would not set about destroying Iraq's conventional military capacity along with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

He added: "Britain and France are working on drafting a UN resolution which would give the Iraqis a maximum of three weeks to comply or face military action.

"Iraq realises it should try to meet this effort with its own compromise. Now it all depends on whether Saddam is prepared to accept it - and whether the Americans will play ball."