Iraq turns away inspectors for fourth day

UN weapons inspection head Richard Butler said that the Iraqis had moved equipment away from sites that were under surveillance by UN cameras. Butler alleged that the Iraqis are trying to protect quantities of deadly VX chemical nerve gas.

The moves came while the Iraqi government turned away UN weapons inspectors for the fourth straight day.

President Clinton expressed concern that pressing the issue any harder may put stress on the alliance that supports the sanctions and may result in its fracture.

Meanwhile, a three-person delegation sent by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan tried to persuade Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to cancel his ban on Americans serving on the weapons inspection teams.

The Arab League yesterday said it opposed any possible military strike against Iraq, and urged the UN Security Council to contain the Baghdad-UN standoff peacefully.

In a statement the AL said it hoped the two sides would maintain a spirit of understanding and cooperation to go ahead with implementing the Security Council resolutions.