A mixed report from UN Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix on Friday left the major powers more divided than ever on US plans to launch a war against Iraq within a short time. Blix told a tense Security Council that Iraq’s move to begin destroying its Al-Samoud 2 missiles constituted ‘‘a substantial measure of disarmament’’ but criticised the rate at which Iraq has handed over documents on prohibited chemical and biological systems. The report came amid a bitter confrontation between the US and its allies, which seem determined to launch war and France, Germany, Russia and China which are equally firm in opposing military action. On Thursday, US President George W. Bush said Washington would push the Security Council for a vote within days but the US was ready to go to war even if it could not push through the resolution. (Reuters)
