"The testimony from scientists and documentation about the WMD development and production programs will be the key to determining the fate of prohibited equipment, materials and munitions," Straw told parliament.

"But we cannot expect witnesses to come forward until they are fully confident they can speak freely," he said.

"The inspection process itself will be painstaking and detailed" and "these investigations are unlikely to be quick."

"Saddam had ample time to conceal his WMD programmes prior to the start of military operations," Straw said.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said earlier Monday he remained confident that US and British forces in Iraq would unearth firm evidence that the regime of Saddam Hussein had been developing weapons of mass destruction.

"There is no doubt that there are weapons of mass destruction," Blair told a reporters at Downing Street. "I remain confident that they will be found."

Blair said US-British forces were beginning to look at seven sites in Iraq from an initial list of some 150 locations where it was believed chemical, biological or nuclear weapons might have been hidden.

SPACE.WIRE