An Iraqi official says Iraq is considering a United Nations order to destroy its Al-Samoud-Two missile program.
General Hossam Mohamed Amin says Iraq has not decided whether it will comply with the order but wants to resolve the issue without US or British intervention.
Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has ordered Iraq to begin destroying the missiles by March first because, he says, they can fly beyond a UN mandated limit of 150-kilometers.
Iraq disputes that claim, saying the range of the missiles will fall within the mandated limit when they are equipped with guidance systems and warheads.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday in Baghdad, General Amin -- who is Baghdad's chief liasion to UN weapons inspectors in Iraq -- repeated Iraqi claims that the country has no weapons of mass destruction.
Earlier Sunday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said "it is time to take action" on disarming Iraq. At a news conference in Tokyo, Mr. Powell said "the evidence is clear" that Iraq is defying UN demands to get rid of its banned weapons. He said "serious consequences must flow" from Iraq's refusal.
A new resolution stating Iraq's failure to comply with UN disarmament demands is expected to be submitted to the United Nations Security Council this week. Secretary Powell says the United States expects the Council to make a decision on the resolution soon after a report by weapons inspectors, due on March seventh.
Meanwhile, former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov is in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials. Russian sources describe the trip as a mission for President Vladimir Putin, who favors more inspections before military action against Iraq is considered.
President Bush has threatened to lead a coalition to disarm Iraq by force, if it does not give up its weapons of mass destruction. Iraq insists it no longer has such weapons.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Saturday that Iraq is still not cooperating fully with inspectors.