1.   Iraq has long called for a halt to the U.N. inspections, saying it no longer possesses banned weaponry.

2.   The Security Council has refused to lift the sanctions until it is convinced that Iraq has destroyed the banned weaponry and reveals all its secret arms programs.

3.   The UN inspectors, who have been barred since Tuesday from searching Iraqi facilities suspected of concealing banned weaponry, are verifying Iraqi compliance with UN disarmament resolutions.

4.   The UN Special Commission inspectors have been blocked outside sites they suspect contain concealed banned weaponry since Wednesday.

5.   The UN Special Commission inspectors have been blocked since Wednesday outside sites they suspect contain concealed banned weaponry.

6.   The UN Security Council on Wednesday called on the Iraqi government to immediately lift restrictions against UN inspectors which have hindered their search for suspected banned weaponry.

7.   They believe that Iraq may be concealing banned weaponry at the sites.

8.   The Iraqi offer, renewed Thursday, invites permanent Council members to send diplomats or experts to sites designated by UNSCOM as possibly concealing banned weaponry.

9.   The inspectors, who have been barred since Tuesday from searching Iraqi facilities suspected of concealing banned weaponry, are verifying Iraqi compliance with UN disarmament resolutions.