Fresh allegations that Iraq is in breach of United Nations disarmament resolutions have been levelled at Baghdad after the discovery of a missile that marginally exceeds the maximum range set by the UN.
However, it has emerged that it was Baghdad itself that informed arms inspectors about the existence of the al-Samoud II missile, which experts say has a range of more than 150 kilometres (93 miles).
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has insisted that the missile range is within the limits set by the United Nations.
But a panel of experts summoned by UN weapons inspectors said the missile could travel up to 180km (112 miles), just over the 150km limit imposed by the UN after the Gulf War.
This would be enough to hit Kuwait, for example, but not enough to reach Israel.
The inspectors first learned of the Iraqi missile's range from documents handed over to Mr Blix during his visit to Baghdad last weekend.
Mr Aziz said "the main problem is that Iraqi missiles which are of a very short range don't have a guidance system, and when a missile doesn't have a guidance system it goes five, 10, 15 kilometres beyond (target)".
He insisted that "that is not very dangerous and must not be exaggerated".
Gotta laugh... this has become such a comedic affair... it really merits the destruction of the UN. (Oh, I so hope they don't pass any resolution... but whatever, it doesn't really matter any more... they are dead, dead, dead)