"Saddam's regime has a long history of playing games," a Downing Street spokeswoman told Nampa-AFP, shortly after United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan announced Iraq had agreed to let the inspectors back into the country.

"His regime has flouted a whole raft of (United Nations) resolutions. Let's see what they are offering," the spokeswoman added.

Blair is the European leader who most strongly backs US President George W. Bush's hard line on Iraq, although his government has put more emphasis on reviving UN arms inspections than on Saddam's ouster.

The White House dismissed Baghdad's offer as a "tactic that will fail" to prevent strong UN Security Council action to disarm Iraq.

"This is a tactical step by Iraq in hopes of avoiding strong UN Security Council action. As such, it is a tactic that will fail," spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement, adding: "It is time for the Security Council to act."

Annan said he received Iraq's pledge in a letter from the Baghdad government.

"I can confirm to you that I have received a letter from the Iraqi authorities conveying their decision to allow the return of the inspectors without conditions to continue their work," he told reporters in New York.

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Nampa-AFP WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 170136)

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