UN weapons inspection chief concerned over Iraqi action

The head of the United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq, Richard Butler, is returning to the region after holding talks in Paris about broadening the representation of the UN teams.

Following Iraq's complaints over the number of British and American inspectors, both France and Russia have offered to send personnel to join the UN teams in an effort to defuse the dispute.

Mr Butler, who's due back in Baghdad on Monday, said before leaving Paris that he has major concerns about Iraq's willingness to comply with UN resolutions on disarmament.

He said the Iraqi government had made considerable progress in the disarmament process which made it harder to understand why it had once again taken action which challenged the inspection operation.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service