UN's Blix orders Iraq to destroy illegal missiles

"The Iraqis understood that if the payload were lighter it would go further," said David Kay, a former nuclear weapons inspector. "They played the game from very early on."

According to diplomats, Iraq declared 76 al-Samouds in June 2002 and said some had been used for tests and component parts. But the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iraq has continued to produce the missiles, and UN inspectors now estimate they have between 100 and 120 missiles.