IRAQ - Aug. 5 - Annan Wants Baghdad To Accept UN Requirements.

Commenting on Baghdad's invitation last week to UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to come to the country to discuss the return of inspections teams, Annan says: "We will need them to understand the requirements of the Security Council. We are prepared to deal with them on that basis. If they accept to work with [Dr Blix] on that basis, then of course the invitation will be looked at in a different light". (The Security Council's most powerful members - the US, UK, France, Russia and China - remain divided over the details of the policy towards Baghdad. Most starkly divergent are Washington, which maintains the toughest line of all the members, and Moscow, Baghdad's most important ally on the Council). Annan also speaks against the US policy to overthrow Saddam Hussein, saying: "I think it would be unwise to attack Iraq given the current circumstances - what's happening in the Middle East".