The job of surveillance

The terms of the ceasefire which ended the Gulf War were made in United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 on April 3 1991.

It set up a UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) which, together with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was to monitor the dismantling of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The work of UNSCOM was approved through Resolution 715.

Iraq was required to accept unconditionally the removal or rendering harmless of the specified weapons and missiles.

It also had to submit full details of the locations of such weapons and undertake not to use, develop, construct or acquire such weapons in the future.

Key UN Security Council resolutions::

• Resolution 687 - the Gulf War ceasefire resolution which formed UNSCOM. It called for the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and authorised inspections to ensure compliance.

• Resolution 715 - approved the plan for on-going inspections.

• Resolution 778 - allowed the confiscation of up to $500 million of oil-related Iraqi assets.

• Resolution 986 - allowed Iraq to sell oil and petroleum products abroad so that it could buy food and medicines for its people.

• Resolution 1051 - approved the mechanism for monitoring relevant Iraqi imports and exports pursuant to Resolution 715.

• Resolution 1115 - demanded Iraq co-operate fully with UNSCOM and postponed a review of sanctions.

• Resolution 1137 - demanded Iraq reverse a decision to expel UNSCOM inspectors

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