Iraq has warned that it might stop destroying its banned al-Samoud missiles if the United States launches military action against Baghdad without United Nations approval.
An advisor to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, General Amer al-Saadi, says Iraq should not have to comply with UN orders to destroy the missiles if the United States decides to act unilaterally.
General al-Saadi says Iraq has destroyed 10 missiles under UN supervision since Saturday -- the deadline chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix had set for the operation to begin.
The general says Iraq also destroyed a casting chamber that was used to form rocket propellant for the missiles.
General al-Saadi also disclosed that Iraqi officials have found a large amount of previously unaccounted for anthrax. He made the comments Sunday, as UN experts met with Iraqi officials to discuss the missing anthrax and unaccounted for V-X nerve agent.
On Saturday, Washington dismissed Iraq's destruction of missiles as part of a "game of deception."