US builds up pressure on Iraq

Iraq must reveal its weapons programmes by 8 December

By Barnaby Mason BBC's diplomatic correspondent

The United States is stepping up diplomatic and military pressure on Iraq as the pace of United Nations weapons inspections starts to quicken.

A number of top US officials embark on diplomatic offensive

The US Deputy Defence Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, will be in Ankara early next week discussing Turkey's contribution to a possible military assault on Iraq.

He and other American officials will also have talks in several European Union capitals.

There will be visits too to countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Getting Turkey on board

The hunt for arms in Iraq, as the date for a full declaration of all Iraqi weapons programmes looms, is set to be accompanied by menacing music from Washington.

Inspectors' remit and task

Unrestricted inspection rights

Can report any obstruction to the UN

First task to assess infrastructure left behind in 1998

They will set up monitoring equipment

Are able to take witnesses out of Iraq

Click here to read Q&A on inspections

The American envoys will be following up requests to more than 50 governments for military contributions, and seeking to build a more solid political coalition.

There are two aims: To convince President Saddam Hussein that an invasion is inevitable if he does not co-operate and to make sure that if it comes it will be as rapid and devastating as possible.

The Americans are arguing that Turkish participation would get the war over quicker and minimise the damage to others.

They are hinting at economic aid to compensate Turkey, backing its bid to join the EU, and promising they will not tolerate an independent Kurdish state being created in northern Iraq.

The Bush administration knows it will not get the same level of support from everybody.

German opposition

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder repeated his opposition to military intervention in Iraq.

He ruled out making available to the US German armoured vehicles equipped to counter chemical and biological weapons.

But Mr Schroeder softened the message by agreeing to the unrestricted use of German airspace and US bases in Germany, and by promising to supply defensive equipment to Israel.

The US says it has asked several countries, including Hungary, to allow members of the Iraqi opposition to have military training on their territory.

Their role would presumably be to act as guides and interpreters in Iraq.