The UN chief weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix said this afternoon that Iraq must begin destroying its illicit al-Samoud missiles by Saturday and he did not expect any more talks with Iraq on the issue.
"We have set a date for the commencement of the destruction of these missiles and we expect that to be respected," Dr Blix told reporters as he began a meeting of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, the UN inspection unit of which he is executive chairman.
"I do not expect that," he said when asked whether there would be any further negotiation with the Iraqis on the missiles' destruction.
"There will be a discussion about the pace in which the destruction will take place," he said, adding that would be conducted by a deputy.
Dr Blix last Friday ordered Baghdad to begin destroying the missiles, their warheads, engines, launchers and other components by Saturday after concluding they exceeded the 90-mile range set for Iraqi rockets by a Security Council resolution.