Iraqi technicians have begun destroying four of its al-Samoud II missiles after agreeing a schedule for their destruction with United Nations weapons inspectors. The work is taking place at a military base near Baghdad under the supervision of UN officials, informed sources say. Iraq agreed to begin destroying its missiles at talks in Baghdad on Saturday morning between General Amir al-Saadi, an adviser to President Saddam Hussein, and senior weapons inspector Dimitri Perricos. The chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, has described the move as "very significant" but the United States remains highly sceptical.