It says Saddam could deploy the weapons even against his own people within 45 minutes, and that the Iraqi leader had retained command and control of their use.

The document reveals that Saddam has also tried to acquire "significant quantities" of uranium from Africa, despite having no civil program that could need it.

Officials have said the dossier would "nail the lie" that Saddam no longer had such weapons.

Mr. Blair showed the report to the Cabinet ahead of today's emergency recall of Parliament.

He told the Cabinet that the policy of "containing" Saddam had failed and that the Iraqi leader now had to be stopped as the threat from the country is growing.

In the Commons today Mr. Blair will make a statement attempting to persuade MPs of the need for urgent action against Iraq. Many MPs have expressed concern about military action, with some having already forced a vote on a technicality to register their hostility. Meanwhile, Father of the House Tam Dalyell has said he will press for a vote to give Parliament a veto over any UK involvement in military action against Iraq.

Downing Street has said that the Government has not given up hope of a diplomatic resolution.

It said the draft of a UN Security Council resolution setting out the terms of an "intrusive" regime of weapons inspections would be tabled "within days".

Israeli security forces have already deployed a number of "Arrow" and "Patriot" ground to air missiles around major population centers. Over 15,000 Israeli emergency workers have begun to receive vaccinations against the Smallpox virus.

Iraq does not share a border with Israel, but since 1948 it has been one of Israel's staunchest enemies.
Iraq made Israel a prime target for unprovoked attacks during the Gulf War. Iraq launched 39 Scud missiles at Israel, killing three Israelis and wounding scores. While much of Iraq's arsenal of unconventional weaponry has been destroyed, Iraq still remains a long-term threat to Israel's security. Recent revelations that Iraq had biological warheads of anthrax and botulism toxin ready for use in 1990, and was close to completing its program to acquire a nuclear capability underscore, how close Israel and the Allied coalition came to disaster. Much of Baghdad's germ warfare arsenal remains unaccounted for.
The UK report states that if sanctions against Iraq are lifted, Iraq would have a nuclear weapon within 2 years.

Saddam is clearly focused on rearming Iraq. Much of Iraq's chemical arsenal, nuclear facilities, and hundreds of mobile ballistic missiles survived the conflict intact and Iraq continues to resist U.N. efforts to destroy them. Although Iraq was forced to destroy many of its remaining Scud missiles, it is believed a large number may remain hidden. In addition, once sanctions are lifted, Baghdad could restockpile its deadly chemical agents in less than two years.

Sharon: This is not 1991. Israel will respond today if attacked by Iraq.
Photo: Joel Leyden

U.N. weapons inspectors were forced out of Iraq in 1998 and, two years later, Iraq launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles in tests to perfect a new system that could be used to build missiles with longer-range capabilities.

The military complexes and missile research centers where the missile, dubbed the al-Samoud, is under development were heavily bombed in December 1998 by allied aircraft during Operation Desert Fox. The Pentagon, at the time, believed that Saddam Hussein’’s new missile activity was put out of commission for at least a year or two. In fact, the first launching of the missile came only six months later.

In January 2001, an Iraqi defector told the London Sunday Telegraph that Iraq has acquired two fully operational nuclear bombs and is working to construct more. Nuclear officials are said to be investigating his claims, which contradict recent reports that Iraq's nuclear weapons plans were still at a preparatory stage.

Moreover, despite Iraq's agreement to comply with U.N. Resolution 687, which prohibits it from allowing any terrorist organizations to operate in its territory, Baghdad still maintains contact with and provides sanctuary to several groups and individuals involved in terrorism.

In addition to striking Israel, the UK report illustrates that Iraq has the capabilities of launching non-conventional weapons at Turkey, Cyprus and Greece.

ISRAEL NEWS AGENCY