London: In a surprise move to stave off US-led attack, Iraq has invited the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to track down the elusive weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the country amidst reports that the United Nations (UN) is making secret contingency plans for a war that would halt all Iraqi oil production, "seriously degrade" its electricity system and provoke civil unrest.

Scientific Adviser to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, general Amir al-Sadi, on December 22 issued a challenge to the US and British intelligence to offer up hard evidence that Iraq has any biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.

"We do not even have any objections if the CIA sent somebody with the inspectors to show them the suspected sites," Sadi said in Baghdad.

The Iraqi offer of unhindered access to CIA agents came after intensive pressure from Washington that made war early in the new year appear almost inevitable, 'The Guardian' daily reported on December 23.

After four days of diplomatic onslaught, Iraq hit back accusing the Bush administration of rehashing old lies.

"We have told the world we are not producing these kind of weapons, but it seems that the world is drugged, absent or in a weak position," Hussein said.

Meanwhile, a report in the 'Times' daily on December 23 said internal UN documents predict that the worst fighting will be in the three Central governorates around Baghdad, with the Kurdish-controlled North remaining largely free of conflict.

But it will take a month after war breaks out before the predominantly 'Shia' South is calm enough for UN humanitarian workers to work there.

PTI