The United Nations announced that it has rescheduled talks with Iraq which were adjourned eight weeks ago on the possible return of UN arms inspectors.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri will head their respective delegations at the opening round at noon (1600 GMT) Wednesday. A second session is scheduled to open at 3:45 pm (1945 GMT), Annan's spokesman's office said.
Experts from the two sides will meet while Annan is in Washington on Thursday for talks with top US, Russian and European Union officials on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Annan and Sabri will reconvene with their delegations on Friday at 10:00 am (1400 GMT).
Meanwhile, the British Guardian daily reported Tuesday that Iraq was ready to back down on its refusal to allow UN weapons inspectors to return to the country in the hope that this will avert a US attack.
According to a participant in discussions at the Iraqi foreign ministry in recent days, the Iraqi government will compromise, though it may try to string out the negotiations. "I think it is now very likely that the inspectors will return," the participant said.
Both President Saddam and his deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, are said to be extremely worried about the threats from the White House.
The Iraqi government is said to believe that any attack will be by missiles but does not know whether the targets will be confined to military, presidential and ministry sites or will include civilian infrastructure, such as power plants. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
