Iraq has told the chief United Nations arms inspector that it is ready to receive inspectors in a week's time - a move dismissed by the US as another delaying tactic.

In a letter to Hans Blix, the UN's chief arms inspector, Iraq said inspectors could return on 19 October - but did not respond in detail to a list of arrangements set out by the UN.

There is only one reason why they moved this far... and that is because of the potential threat of war

Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary

The BBC's UN correspondent says that US and British diplomats believe the letter - signed by Iraqi General Amir al-Saadi - falls short of what they expected.

Iraq and the UN have been discussing the return of arms inspectors to search for the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons that the US and Britain accuse Baghdad of developing.

The Iraqis were replying to a letter from Dr Blix about the arrangements for weapons inspections agreed in Vienna at the beginning of this month.

'Delay and deceive'

Dr Blix has, however, postponed the return of the inspectors while the UN Security Council tries to reach agreement on a new resolution on the crisis.

"We are not surprised that once again the Iraqis want to delay and deceive," said Richard Grenell, spokesman for the US Ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte.

"We have had 16 resolutions and 11 years of playing this game and it is time the Security Council took action."

Iraq is accused of continuing its weapons programmes

Iraq's ambassador to the UN, Mohammed Albouri, insisted that the letter showed that Baghdad was trying to co-operate.

"The letter means we are working on all questions in good faith. Let the inspectors get back to Iraq. We don't think there will be any problems with inspections," Mr Aldouri told Reuters news agency.

UK Home Secretary Jack Straw said the letter showed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was backing down, faced with the threat of military action.

"Just four weeks ago they [Iraq] were saying they would not have the inspectors back under any circumstances, that they had no weapons of mass destruction," Mr Straw told the BBC.

"There is only one reason why they moved this far, not far enough, but this far, and that is because of the potential threat of war."

'Propaganda'

Meanwhile, after talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed cautious optimism about Russian backing for a tougher UN resolution on Iraq.

Blair and Putin did not see eye to eye on Iraq

Earlier, speaking publicly for the first time on the issue, Mr Putin said he did not rule out supporting a new, tougher resolution.

Moscow had previously insisted there was no need for a new Security Council resolution on weapons inspections.

However, at a news conference following the talks, Mr Blair heard his host openly dismiss the UK dossier of evidence against Saddam Hussein as propaganda.

The chairman of the UN Security Council, Martin Belinga-Eboutou of Cameroon, has announced that debate on a new resolution will begin on Wednesday.