Chief U-N arms inspector Hans Blix says that even if Iraq started fully cooperating, the inspection process would still take several months to complete.
In an interview with the German news weekly Die Zeit, Mr. Blix said Iraq is making a greater effort to clear up questions about its weapons programs.
Later today (Wednesday), President Bush will deliver a speech on his vision for Iraq and Middle East peace in the event of a U-S led war to disarm Baghdad. He has repeatedly said Iraq must completely rid itself of banned weapons or face US led military action to disarm him.
The speech comes one day before the United Nations Security Council re-convenes to discuss a British - Spanish - US draft resolution that could open the way to war.
France, Russia and Germany oppose the draft and have submitted a measure calling for inspections to continue. But the United States today (Wednesday) rejected a Canadian proposal to give Iraq until the end of March to disarm, saying Baghdad has already had enough time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac both say they will not support a new resolution authorizing war.