Iraq inspections in Mid-East spotlight

Media in the Middle East have cautiously welcomed the resumption of UN weapons inspections in Iraq - but they warn that the threat of war is still real.

In Iraq the inspections are seen as a necessary evil.

"UN inspectors resumed their work after being withdrawn in 1998 on orders by the evil US administration," said Iraqi TV in its first report on the new inspections.

This approach will enhance the world's conviction that Iraq is free of all banned weapons

Iraqi TV

The report voiced confidence that Iraq would be shown to be "free of weapons of mass destruction".

Iraqi TV has also been carrying official Iraqi reports on the inspectors' visits.

They detail the number of participants and their itinerary. And they include information about the sites and what the inspectors did there.

The point is made that the sites are precisely those which the British and Americans "claimed were involved in prohibited activities".

One Iraqi TV commentary stressed Baghdad's "sound stand and honest intentions".

Any risk taken by the Iraqis can ignite the flame of war

Iranian radio

"This approach will enhance the world's conviction that Iraq is free of all banned weapons," it said.

A commentary in the Iraqi newspaper Al-Thawrah complained of "ill intentions" concealed in UN Security Council Resolution 1441.

"Despite this, Iraq took its clear decision to deal with this bad, unfair, tendentious and unbalanced resolution," the commentary said.

It then asked why Iraq agreed to the inspections, and replied: "Iraq wants to spare its people and the region the woes of war".

It was simply "not in Iraq's interest to create a crisis," the paper said.

Risks

In neighbouring Iran, where memories of the bitter 1980-88 war with Iraq remain fresh - the mood is optimistic.

"This can be a good start to resolve the Iraqi crisis by peaceful means," an Iranian radio commentary says.

The inspectors are without a preconceived desire to pick on Iraq

Al-Ahram

But it also warns Iraqis to "seize the opportunity and avoid risks".

"Any risk taken by the Iraqis can ignite the flame of war," it says, noting that the Iraqis may have "inadvertently missed" some of the weapons they possess.

"They must avoid giving any excuse to America to carry out its warmongering policies," the commentary adds.

Egyptians encouraged

In Egypt, papers are also upbeat.

Al-Ahram says the course of the inspections so far indicates that the "spectre of a destructive war" could be driven away.

And the paper highlights Baghdad's "desire to co-operate".

At the same time, it says, the inspectors are completing their task "without a preconceived desire to pick on Iraq".

This "encouraging start" by both sides must now be maintained.

'Volcano'

Another Egyptian daily, Al-Akhbar, hopes the inspectors' mission will "put an end to the tragedy of the Iraqi people and the aggression against them".

The coming volcano, is not that of governments or armies, but rather that of peoples

Al-Jumhuriyah

But a separate article in the same paper expresses scepticism.

Despite the "quiet start" of the mission, who knows what surprises or snags lie ahead?

The inspectors might, after all, come up with proof of a "material breach" by Iraq, the article says.

They might even record cases of delaying tactics or obstruction, ranging from the "flat tyres" of an inspector's vehicle to the discovery of spies among the team.

A third Egyptian paper goes further, warning of a "coming volcano".

"My heart cries for Iraq," says a columnist in Al-Jumhuriyah.

"The coming volcano, is not that of governments or armies, but rather that of peoples. You just wait!" the columnist adds.

US criticised in Syria

Syria's Al-Thawrah daily seeks to isolate Washington's approach.

"Contrary to international optimism that the success of the inspections would lead to the final closure of the Iraqi file, the Bush administration is following an arrogant and provocative policy," the paper says.

It warns Washington not to behave as though it were the "sole authority".

"The US administration is ignoring the fact that the sole authority on all this is the international Security Council," the paper adds.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.