51.   Despite an Iraqi threat to shoot down U.S. spy planes, the United Nations says its international disarmament experts will proceed with arms inspections and surveillance flights.

52.   Despite mounting military threats, Iraq showed no sign of letting U.N. arms inspections to resume.

53.   Despite Iraqi prodding, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he has no plans to mediate the latest crisis over U.N. arms inspections.

54.   Despite Iraqi prodding, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he has no plans to mediate the latest crisis over international arms inspections.

55.   Earlier this year, the pope praised Annan for his mission in Baghdad to avert an attack on Iraq over the issue of arms inspections.

56.   He told a Russian TV station that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was going to Baghdad to try to defuse the crisis over U.N. arms inspections.

57.   In November, several key Arab countries declared that Iraq would be held responsible for any conflict over arms inspections.

58.   Iraq announced Monday it would block any arms inspections by American Scott Ritter, a move that could set off a new confrontation with U.N. weapons inspectors.

59.   Iraq dismissed the proposal as U.N. arms inspections under a different name.

60.   Iraq hoped the letter would defuse the current crisis over arms inspections and avert a possible U.S. military strike.