HIGHLIGHTS|| Blix Invites Outside Experts to Discuss Al-Samoud and Al-Fatah Missiles|| Russia Says Report on Missile Inconclusive & Requires Further Study|| However, Development Could Fuel US UN Security Council Campaign Against Iraq|| France Circulates Proposal to Strengthen UN Inspectors|| Foreign Ministers Heading to New York for UN Security Council's High Stakes Session on Friday|| STORY: Missile experts called in by U.N. arms inspectors believe the engines for Iraq's Al Samoud missile probably should be destroyed as the rocket's range exceeds U.N. limits, diplomats said on Wednesday.

The development is likely to provide new fuel to a U.S. campaign to convince the 15-nation U.N. Security Council that Iraq is not fully cooperating with U.N. disarmament efforts, the diplomats said.

The finding could also sorely test Iraq if inspectors end up asking it to destroy the missiles just as Baghdad digs in for war with the United States.

Outside Experts Discussed Al-Samoud 2 Al-Fatah Missiles

UN Chief Arms inspector, Hans Blix had summoned outside experts to U.N. headquarters to discuss whether the liquid-fueled Al Samoud 2 or a solid propellant missile called Al-Fatah violated the range limit.

The experts concluded after a two-day meeting that ended late on Tuesday that the Al Samoud clearly exceeded the permissible range, but it was less certain that the Al-Fatah also violated the limit, the diplomats said.

Blix invited experts from the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, Ukraine and Germany, but only the Russian expert did not attend, U.N. officials said.

Blix two weeks ago told the council of preliminary findings that both missiles had exceeded the permissible range by a "significant" amount and said these missiles might "very well represent prima facie cases of proscribed systems."

In connection with the missiles, Iraq had imported 380 rocket engines, chemicals used in propellants, test instrumentation and guidance and control instruments -- all forbidden under 12-year-old U.N. sanctions imposed after Baghdad invaded neighboring Kuwait, the U.N. arms experts reported.

Report Inconclusive

Iraq and Russia, however, disputed the finding.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov, arguing that decisions on war and peace were still premature, said the missile report was inconclusive and more study was needed.

He called the issue "a technical matter" rather than a violation of a Security Council resolution that banned Iraqi missiles with a range of more than 150 km (90 miles).

The Al Samoud 2 rocket repeatedly tested up to 40 km (24 miles) beyond the permissible range according to council diplomats familiar with the experts' report.

"Inspections should continue. It's clear," Fedotov told reporters after a meeting of the governing board of the U.N. inspection agency UNMOVIC.

A Russian expert was invited -- but did not attend -- the two-day meeting at U.N. headquarters at which the missile's capabilities were debated, U.N. officials said.

"The verdict on the missiles was that Al Samoud falls in the prohibited zone and its engines should probably be destroyed," said one envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"It's likely that (chief U.N. arms inspector Hans) Blix will report that to the council on Friday," another council diplomat said.
The development comes just days before Friday's key Security Council meeting at which Blix and fellow chief inspector Mohamed ElBaradei are to present a crucial report on the progress of their disarmament efforts.

The United States and Britain argue that Iraq has failed to wholeheartedly cooperate with U.N. disarmament efforts and warn that time is running out for it to rid itself of any weapons of mass destruction.

Washington, joined by a handful of allies, is sending troops and military gear to the region in preparation for a possible war.
But most members of the council, led by France and Germany, have argued so far that inspectors should be given more time to do their work before military action is weighed.

France Circulates Detailed Proposals to Strengthen UN Inspections

In a direct challenge to the United States and Britain, France on Tuesday circulated detailed proposals to strengthen U.N. inspections as an alternative to war, a position backed by Germany, Russia and China.

France, Russia and China are permanent Security Council members, along with the United States and Britain, and as such hold veto power

Chinese Ambassador Wang Yingfan and Russia's Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday they hoped the council would take a look at France's ideas if they made U.N. inspections more effective and efficient.

But U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte disagreed.

Sending in more inspectors "is not going to have much meaning without Iraqi compliance," he told reporters

Iraq, meanwhile, said it was up to the inspectors.

"If there's a need, they (Blix's team) will ask. It's not up to us to say we accept or not," Iraqi U.N. Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri said.

Foreign Ministers Heading to New York

With war in the balance, Friday's meeting was shaping up as a high-stakes session, with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia expected to send their foreign ministers, diplomats said.

The public meeting would open at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, and a second public meeting would be held next Tuesday so that countries that are not Security Council members could join in the debate, German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said. Germany holds the council's rotating presidency for February.

PHOTO CAPTION

An engine is fired in a test stand in support of Iraq's Al Samoud missile program in this undated photo from an October, 2002 CIA report on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. (