Hans Blix to leave post

Hans Blix to leave post

Blix came into conflict with the United States

UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, who oversaw the return of an inspection team to Iraq, is set to leave his post in June.

Mr Blix's contract expires then but he told Japan's Nippon TV that he does not "propose to stay beyond that".

The 74-year-old Swede was plucked out of retirement three years ago to lead the UN's monitoring group.

He had inspectors in Iraq for three months of that period.

In recent interviews, the former foreign minister and lawyer, has voiced disappointment at the failure of UN Security Council negotiations over the disarming of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Is three months enough to say there's an impasse and you won't get there, or do you feel that a couple of months more is something you can try without a guarantee of getting there?

Hans Blix

"Is three months enough to say there's an impasse and you won't get there, or do you feel that a couple of months more is something you can try without a guarantee of getting there?" the New York Times newspaper quoted him as saying recently.

Some say the mild-mannered Mr Blix became the bete noire of American officials, especially after his announcement that inspectors had been unable to confirm assertions made by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, regarding Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction programme.

'Real disarmament'

When he later demanded Iraq destroy its al-Samoud II missiles, which it began to do, Mr Blix told the UN the move represented "real disarmament".

Mr Blix is expected to return to his home in Stockholm.

He headed the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for 16 years, retiring in 1997.

In 2000, he came out of retirement after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asked him to head the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Unmovic).

Mr Blix has written several books concerning international and constitutional law.