London: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has lauded the chief United Nations
weapons inspector Hans Blix for the increasing intensity of his team's work in Iraq.
Blair met Blix at Chequers, his official country residence on January 17, in a
meeting that holds significance after the discovery of 11 empty warheads in Iraq.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Blix had briefed Blair "in the round"
about his team's work and Blair has voiced his "strong support" for Blix and his
team.
"He welcomed the continuing build-up in the intensity of the inspection programme as
more inspectors arrived in Iraq and as their resources improved," the spokesman
said.
"The Prime Minister stressed how important it was for Saddam to take full advantage
of this opportunity to disarm," he said.
The UN weapons inspectors on January 16 discovered 11 empty 122 mm warheads designed
to carry chemical weapons and one that required further evaluation following a raid
on the Ukhaider ammunition storage area, 120 km South of Baghdad.
The UK has reacted cautiously to news of the 11 empty chemical warheads, saying it
will not "second guess" the report inspectors will deliver later this month.
PTI
