The Bush administration says it will soon release U-S intelligence information showing that Iraq maintains weapons of mass destruction.
The expected release next week is part of a push to build international support for a possible war against Iraq.
A senior advisor to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, General Amir Rashid, today (Tuesday) repeated Iraq's denial that it has any banned weapons and said Monday's report by United Nations inspectors did not represent the facts fairly.
U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell, in an interview with European media,says the United States has intelligence information showing that Iraq is violating U-N resolutions, and is working to de-classify as much of the information as possible so it can be released as early as next week.
Officials in Washington say the intelligence material shows officials close to President Saddam have been directly involved in the movement and hiding of weapons to avoid their discovery by U-N inspectors.
The chief U-N weapons inspector, Hans Blix, told the Security Council on Monday that key questions about Iraq's weapons program remain unanswered, including the whereabouts of chemical weapons stocks.
Meanwhile in Iraq, President Saddam told military commanders to be vigilant for any sign of treason. The United States has warned Iraqi military officers they would be prosecuted for war crimes if they follow orders to use chemical or biological weapons.
President Bush is expected to use his State of the Union speech later today (Tuesday, early Wednesday U-T-C) to make the case that war is becoming unavoidable.
Security Council members France and Russia are among the major powers that have expressed doubt that it is necessary to use military force against Iraq, and they argue that international inspections should be given more time.