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News Analysis

• War on Saddam to start in weeks not months. British and American build up continues and the US has officially said that they already have troops in northern Iraq. Plans about how the war is to be conducted were leaked to the press.

  
  
• Blix's report to the security council states that Saddam is not disarming. America will try to convince the security council to agree on a second resolution before starting its military operation. Colin Powell is to present the proofs about Saddam's deception on the 5th of February. They are expected to include conversations intercepted by the CIA showing Iraqi officials discussing hiding weapons.

  
  
• Europe is currently divided regarding military action, but a letter signed by eight european leaders showing support for American plans regarding Iraq demonstrates that the US is not short of allies. Support for military action against Saddam is expected to come from twenty three countries. Russia and France are expected to ease their opposition to war within the next few days.

• The UN is still not being able to conduct private interviews with Iraqi scientists. Saddam is still refusing to allow inspectors the use of U2 planes.
  
  

• Psychological war continues by dropping leaflets and airing radio broadcasts encouraging people to rise up against Saddam. Iraqi opposition leaders are already arriving in northern Iraq.