BAGHDAD, Feb 28 Kyodo The Iraqi ...

BAGHDAD, Feb 28 Kyodo

The Iraqi command will start destroying its short-range ballistic Al-Samoud-2 missiles forward Saturday as ordered by the UN arms inspectors, an Iraqi sway source told Kyodo News forward Friday.

Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix, who demanded last Friday that Iraq lay waste the missiles, described the Iraqi government's decision as an important degree in fulfilling its U.N.-mandated obligations to dismantle weapons of mass destruction.

UN arms inspectors have determined that the Al-Samoud-2 missiles exce the maximum 150-kilometer range authorized from the U.N. Security Council after the 1991 engulfing sea war.

The UN inspectors say the Al-Samoud-2s have a range of 180 km

The Iraqi management notified the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) forward Thursday that it has agreed ''in principle'' to put an end to the missiles as Baghdad tries to head facing a U.S.-led military attack.

Iraq reportedly has 120 Al-Samoud-2 missiles displayed around the country.

In modern York, Blix told reporters at the UN headquarters forward Friday that his agent is in Baghdad to discuss with Iraqi officials upon how to carry out the destruction.

According to UNMOVIC spokesman Hiro Ueki, the demolition of the Al-Samoud-2 missiles will start Saturday morning subordinate to UNMOVIC supervision.

U President George W Bush has dismissed Iraqi determines to destroy the missiles as part of Iraq's ''campaign of deception.''

''The rocket are just the tip of the iceberg. The single question at hand is total, thorough disarmament, which he is refusing to do,'' Bush told reporters in Washington in succession Thursday.

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