The UN also said that it would not reduce inspections of Iraqi sites where it is feared chemical and biological weapons are also being produced.

Members of the UN Security Council held an all-day review of the Iraqi weapons and sanctions situation on Monday, the first in nearly a year.

No action in lifting sanctions comes out of the reviews, which give Security Council members an opportunity to state their positions. But without the reviews there is no movement toward easing the embargoes.

Progress noted

Richardson: "Still more to do"

The US Ambassador to the UN, Bill Richardson, told the Council that the US acknowledged progress in the areas of access to presidential and sensitive sites.

He said: "There appears to be some progress in the nuclear file. However, we believe it is premature to close the nuclear file.

"Based on the reports we have received, there is little sentiment to lift sanctions."

France, traditionally closer to Baghdad, also said Iraq needed to do more to comply with UN resolutions.

Mr Richardson made his comments after China called for the Security Council to acknowledge that Iraq had fulfilled its requirements on nuclear weapons and sanctions should end as soon as possible.

A French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told a news briefing in Paris that "many things remain to be clarified in the areas of chemical and especially biological weapons.

"The Iraqi authorities must take the necessary measures to allow the verification process to move forward."

Baghdad's view

Amer al-Saadi, an adviser to the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, said in Baghdad the Security Council discussions should focus on lifting the trade embargo imposed more than seven years ago when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

He said: "Iraq has dismantled all weapons of mass destruction, biological, chemical, ballistic and nuclear. It is all finished."

He said UN "allegations" that Iraq continues to have weapons of mass destruction were an "absolute fallacy" and challenged it to come up with evidence.

The reviews, usually every 60 days, were suspended last June after Iraq interfered with arms inspectors.

The UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) Chairman, Richard Butler, reported to the council last week that "virtually no progress in verifying disarmament has been able to be reported" as a result.