In pictures: Iraq arms inspections resume

United Nations weapons inspectors are back at work in Iraq after a four-year absence. During their first missions on Wednesday they paid unannounced visits to two sites outside the capital, Baghdad.

The UN inspectors left their headquarters - a former hotel - at 0830 local time.

Their four-wheel drives sped through Baghdad, with journalists and Iraqi officials in hot pursuit.

One convoy went to a graphite rod factory in Amariyah, 40 kilometres (25 miles) to the south-west

Journalists were first allowed into the compound - but Iraqi soldiers then told them to leave

Graphite has both civilian and military uses, and weapons inspectors took copious notes

Another team visited a military compound - known as Just Defiance - at al-Rashad, north east of Baghdad

Iraqi officials insisted they had nothing to hide, as the UN inspected workshops at al-Rashad