Annan is cool to Iraq's inspection offer

UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations Secretary-general Kofi Annan reacted coolly Friday to Iraq's invitation for its chief weapons inspector to visit Baghdad and lay framework to resume U.N. weapons inspections after four years.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri sent a letter to Annan Thursday proposing talks with Hans Blix, the chief U.N. inspector. The letter gave the first indication in years Baghdad might allow the return of inspectors to determine whether Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction.

The letter arrived the day President Bush repeated his call for a Baghdad "regime change" -- or toppling of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

While he welcomed the letter, Annan felt the Iraqi proposal "is at variance with the one laid down by the Security Council," said U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard. He said Annan plans to consult Monday with the council about what to do.

The United States and Britain dismissed Iraq's proposal, but Russia and France welcomed it, an indication the permanent Security Council members are split on what Annan should do. The fifth --and veto-wielding -- council member is China, who has usually sided with Iraq.

"We don't see anything new about this, but we are not opposed to it," said Zalmay Khalilzad, a National Security Council member who advises Bush on Middle East issues.

Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, said the action was intended to postpone a U.S.-led attack. "This is a political and diplomatic way to defend ourselves," he told Reuters. "They are always accusing us of not permitting those people, and now we say we are ready to lay the ground to allow the inspectors."

The weapons inspectors, whose return is a requirement to lifting U.N. sanctions, left Iraq in December 1998, on the eve of a U.S.-British bombing raid, and have not been allowed to return. Iraq officials say they were spies and it has declared all arms programs.