1.   At the United Nations, the Security Council met behind closed doors late into the night in an attempt to adopt a statement condemning Iraq for expelling the inspectors.

2.   How that can be accomplished if an attack on Iraq causes Saddam to expel U.N. inspectors is not clear.

3.   In November, Iraq temporarily expelled American inspectors, raising concern that the dispute might provoke a military confrontation with the U.S. that could endanger oil exports.

4.   Iraq expelled American inspectors last week, accusing them of spying for the U.S. government.

5.   Iraq expelled American inspectors from Iraq last week, accusing them of spying for the U.S. government.

6.   Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, through his deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, showed no sign of backing down in his insistence that American inspectors be expelled.

7.   Last fall, the Iraqis expelled American inspectors, whom Baghdad accused of being spies.

8.   Last year, his government expelled American inspectors, put large presidential compounds off limits and threatened to freeze all inspections.

9.   The dispute could lead to an escalation of military tensions, such as occurred in November when Iraq temporarily expelled American inspectors.

10.   The head of the U.N. team said that Baghdad stepped up those efforts in the days since the inspectors were expelled.