11.   In early December, Iraq told Richard Butler, the chairman of the special commission, that it planned to restrict access to certain presidential sites.

12.   Iraq has banned all U.N. inspectors from eight enormous presidential sites where such materials could easily be concealed.

13.   It also provides for diplomatic chaperones on inspecting the eight presidential sites.

14.   On Monday, Jayantha Dhanapala, undersecretary-general for disarmament affairs, is to go to Iraq to begin laying the groundwork for visits to the presidential sites.

15.   Perhaps Saddam had already accepted the principle of open-ended inspections of the presidential sites before they even sat down.

16.   Right now, the presidential sites are wading into the Web waters with so-so results.

17.   Richard Butler, chairman of the UN special commission on disarming Iraq, left Baghdad yesterday after failing to win access for UN inspectors to so-called presidential sites.

18.   Separately, Iraq refused to allow UN weapons inspectors access to so-called presidential sites.

19.   The current crisis involves access to eight so-called presidential sites that Baghdad declared off-limits.

20.   The new procedures provide for diplomats to accompany inspectors at eight presidential sites in coming weeks.