Chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix says Iraq seems to be making an effort to cooperate with U-N arms inspectors.
However, Mr. Blix says the U-N team still wants to see a lot more evidence of cooperation during upcoming talks in Baghdad, before he reports back to the Security Council next Friday.
His comments today (Friday) followed news that U-N inspectors interviewed three Iraqi scientists, in private (Friday), in accordance with Security Council guidelines.
Meanwhile, President Bush said today (Friday) it is time for the Security Council to act against Iraq. He said the council must decide if its resolutions mean anything or if it will allow a dictator to get away with lying and deception.
Mr. Bush repeated his vow that the United States is ready to lead a coalition to disarm Iraq by force. He said the United States would welcome another Security Council resolution authorizing force, although he does not believe it is required.
The U-S leader said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein can decide if there is war or peace, but must completely disarm if he wants peace. And he added that Saddam Hussein has so far "treated the demands of the world as a joke."