41.   On Wednesday morning, three busloads of weapons monitors left the U.N. compound in Baghdad, followed by four white U.N. cars carrying spare tires on top.

42.   On Friday, Richard Butler, the chief U.N. weapons monitor, is expected in Iraq.

43.   Richard Butler, the chief U.N. weapons monitor, said in New York on Thursday that four Americans would return with the team.

44.   Rolf Ekeus, the chief U.N. weapons monitor, has repeatedly accused Iraq of trying to deceive his inspectors.

45.   Security Council diplomats said they will not consider lifting the sanctions until Iraq fully cooperates with U.N. weapons monitors.

46.   Security Council members have repeatedly said they will not consider easing the sanctions until Baghdad fully cooperates with the weapons monitors.

47.   Russia and France favor easing the oil embargo as soon as Baghdad fully cooperates with U.N. weapons monitors.

48.   Richard Butler, the chief U.N. weapons monitor, is expected Friday in Iraq.

49.   Rolf Ekeus, the chief U.N. weapons monitor, said it was not clear what kind of damage the delay in flights and the limit on inspections could cause.

50.   Russian Ambassador Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday he will press for an easing of the U.N. oil embargo against Iraq by spring if Baghdad cooperates with weapons monitors.