41.   As Iraq steps up preparations for a possible military confrontation over U.N. arms inspections, the chief international inspector is traveling to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi leaders.

42.   As expected, Iraq rejected American demands for new U.N. arms inspections.

43.   Before leaving Wednesday, Shah said he still hoped a solution could be found to allow resumption of arms inspections.

44.   Before leaving Wednesday, Shah said he still hoped a solution could be found to allow the resumption of arms inspections.

45.   Before leaving Wednesday, Shah said he still hoped a solution could be found to resume arms inspections.

46.   But both U.S. President Bill Clinton and Secretary State Madeleine Albright insisted Friday that an attack can only be averted if Iraq rescinds its decision to halt arms inspections.

47.   Britain and the United States had threatened military action after Iraq refused to open suspected weapons sites to U.N. arms inspections.

48.   Caroline Cross, spokeswoman for the U.N. Special Commission in charge of the arms inspections, said all the U.N. arms experts in the country were working Wednesday.

49.   Clinton has warned that spurning U.N. demands for arms inspections would be a costly mistake for Iraq.

50.   Council members remains badly divided on how to restart U.N. arms inspections and improve humanitarian conditions.