According to CBS, Saddam also flatly denied that Al Samoud 2 missiles violated U.N. range restrictions and indicated he has no plans to destroy them, as demanded by U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix.

CNN: CBS: Saddam challenges Bush to debate

Mr Blix confirmed that Iraq's Al-Samoud missile programme exceeded UN-imposed limits on range and was "therefore proscribed for Iraq".

BBC: 'Banned weapons unaccounted for'

The destruction of the al-Samoud 2s will be central to that report.

ECONOMIST: In need of resolution

One such test could be the immediate dismantling of his al-Samoud 2 missiles which, the inspectors say, have a range greater than that allowed under UN rules.

ECONOMIST: Ready for war

Mr Hussein, meanwhile, is considering what to do about a letter from Mr Blix demanding that by Saturday he start destroying his al-Samoud 2 rockets and several hundred illegally imported missile engines.

ECONOMIST: Dealing with Iraq