The head of the UN nuclear agency urged Iraq to take dramatic steps to show co-operation with weapons inspectors in remarks published this morning.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mr Mohamed El Baradei said President Saddam Hussein could take a lead in showing more determination to co-operate with inspectors searching for banned weapons - which Baghdad says it does not have.
"What's required is a dramatic change in spirit and sincerity," Mr El Baradei said in an interview with the Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat.
"The Iraqi president [could] himself announce on television that he is prepared for complete co-operation and that he is giving directives to all Iraqi officials to co-operate completely and present all the documents they have, or even if they have weapons, to reveal them".
Mr El Baradei said he had asked a delegation of Arab foreign ministers due to head to Iraq this week to urge Baghdad to take "dramatic steps".
"I still feel that the war is not inevitable. But without doubt we are drawing near," he said. "The two coming weeks will be decisive and the ball is still in Iraq's court".
The United States, which has massed forces in the Gulf, is pressing the UN Security Council give Iraq a March 17th ultimatum to disarm or face war.