Calls for the body to be restructured or replaced grew as the row about its role in US and other countries’ intelligence gathering increased.

Bush and Colin Powell want Iraqi "regime change"

In June 1999, Unscom head Richard Butler stepped down as his contract ended.

Six months later, Unscom’s successor body, Unmovic, was established, but Iraq refused it entry.

With no inspections in Iraq, uncertainty grew about possible new weapons programmes.

In November 2000, US President George W Bush came to power, signalling a new get-tough policy on Iraq and vowing to "re-invigorate" sanctions.

He continued with the policy begun by President Clinton of funding Iraqi opposition groups, particularly the exiled Iraqi National Congress, in the hope of undermining Saddam Hussein’s rule.

In early 2002, the administration started describing its aims publicly as “regime change”.