November 27 2002
The weapons inspectors start inspections, visiting two sites, and thank the Iraqis for their cooperation but do not comment on findings.
UN inspectors welcome Iraqi cooperation

November 22 2002
Vladimir Putin warns the US not to go it alone against Iraq, sounding a note of caution after an otherwise warm welcome to President Bush in Russia.
Russia tells US to stick to UN script

November 18 2002
United Nations weapons inspectors arrive in Baghdad to re-launch the search for weapons of mass destruction.
UN weapons inspectors arrive in Iraq

November 13 2002
President Saddam sends a letter to the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, accepting the UN resolution.
Defiant Saddam accepts UN team

November 8 2002
UN security council votes unanimously to back a US-British resolution requiring Iraq to reinstate weapons inspectors after a four year absence.
UN vote casts the die

October 16 2002
Iraq renews offer to UN weapons inspectors, after 'referendum' gives Saddam Hussein another seven-year term as president with 100% of the vote.

September 30 2002
UN negotiators and an Iraqi delegation meet in Vienna for three days of talks to agree terms for resuming weapons inspections. But talks leave eight presidential compounds off-limits, and US rejects inspectors' return without a new security council resolution.
US rejects Iraq inspections deal

September 24 2002
Britain publishes dossier saying Iraq could produce a nuclear weapon within one or two years, if it obtains fissile material and other components from abroad.
Blair: we have the evidence

September 16 2002
Iraq accepts 'unconditional' return of UN inspectors.
Saddam caves in on inspectors

September 12 2002
President Bush addresses UN to put the case for war against Iraq.
Bush sets the war clock ticking

August 1 2002
Iraq invites UN chief weapons inspector to Baghdad.
Iraq invites UN weapons inspector to talks

July 5 2002
Talks in Vienna between the United Nations and Iraq break down without agreement.
UN and Iraq fail in weapons talks

May 14 2002
UN introduces 'smart sanctions' targeted at military equipment, to replace existing sanctions.
UN agrees long-awaited smart sanctions for Iraq

January 30 2002
In the first state of the union address after the September 11 attacks on America, US president George Bush says Iraq is part of an 'axis of evil'.
Anti-terror war is only starting, Bush tells US

February 15 2001
US and Britain bomb Iraq's air defence network.
US and British aircraft attack Iraq