Senior Iraqi officials told an informal meeting of the United Nations Security Council that it has no more weapons, or documents relating to them.

But the chief UN weapons inspector, Richard Butler, is expected to argue that Iraq still is not telling the full story.

Mr Butler and his team of experts intend to present to the Council on Wednesday evidence on Iraq's long-range missile and chemical and germ warfare programmes.

They are also expected to lay down a challenge to Baghdad by indicating what Iraq needs to do to bring the inspections to an end - something the Iraqi Government has been demanding for some time.

The BBC United Nations Correspondent, Rob Watson, says it is all part of the continuing struggle between Iraq and the UN weapons inspectors (Unscom) in their battle for support in the Security Council.