Baghdad — A day after accepting a tough new UN resolution on weapons inspections, Iraq on Thursday predicted more trouble ahead with the United States as it prepares to receive the first group of inspectors in four years.

Babil newspaper, owned by President Saddam Hussein's son Uday, called on Iraq's traditional Security Council allies — Russia, France and China — to remain vigilant about U.S. intentions.

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"After Iraq's positive stance, the Security Council members — especially Russia, France and China — should be aware that our problem and crisis with the United States is not over yet and may have just begun," the influential newspaper said in a front-page editorial.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the United States' staunchest ally, told Iraqis in a recorded radio broadcast that their country would be more prosperous if Mr. Hussein stopped spending money on banned arms programs.

Mr. Blair's spokesman said in London the Prime Minister was hoping to address Mr. Hussein, the Iraqi people "and the wider Arab world" in the broadcast taped for the Arabic service of Radio Monte Carlo: the most popular radio station broadcasting into Iraq on shortwave. The interview is scheduled to be aired within 24 hours.

"One of the reasons I wanted to speak to you today is to communicate with people directly, because what happens in a situation like this is that there are myths that grow up," Mr. Blair said. "I have just dealt with one myth that this is about Christians versus Muslims — it isn't — or is about the West versus the Arab world, or it's about oil."

Mr. Blair said it is up to Mr. Hussein to disarm "and if he doesn't do it then the consequence is that the weapons will be disarmed by force." He said Mr. Hussein's regime is "brutal and oppressive" and that Iraq is potentially a very rich country.

"The standard of living and prosperity of the Iraqi people would be infinitely greater were Saddam not there," he said.

On the streets of Baghdad, however, ordinary Iraqis expressed concern that the Americans were bent on a military showdown with the government, regardless of whether it co-operated with the UN inspectors.

"We are happy that the crisis has been defused for the time being, but I think the war is inevitable" said Salah Ali, 44, a bookstore owner.

Iraq informed the United Nations on Wednesday that it had accepted the latest UN resolution and would allow international inspectors to resume the search for weapons of mass destruction that was suspended in 1998. An advance team of inspectors is expected in Baghdad on Monday, with formal inspections to begin Nov. 25.

U.S. President George W. Bush has warned that the United States will show "zero tolerance" of any Iraqi obstruction and has threatened war if Baghdad fails to comply with the resolution.

"The world expects Saddam Hussein to disarm for the sake of peace," Mr. Bush said Wednesday with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at his side in the White House Oval Office.

Mr. Annan quickly concurred, saying, "Let the inspectors go in. I urge the Iraqis to co-operate with them and to perform and I think that is the test we are waiting for."

Iraq insists that it no longer possesses any weapons of mass destruction, despite Washington's insistence that it does.

UN inspectors left Iraq ahead of U.S. air strikes on Baghdad in December, 1998, and Baghdad barred their return. The United States maintains that Iraq has used the four-year absence to rebuild its banned weapons programs.

Iraq's newspapers, tightly controlled by the government, published the text of the nine-page letter sent by Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to the United Nations, declaring Baghdad's acceptance of the UN resolution.

The letter's anti-U.S. tone made clear that Baghdad's decision to accept inspectors was made without enthusiasm, raising questions about how smoothly co-operation could be.

"We hereby inform you that we will deal with Resolution 1441, despite its bad contents," the letter said. "If the whims of the American administration, the Zionist desires, their followers, intelligence services, threats and foul temptation were given the chance to play and tamper with the inspection teams or some of their members ... the resulting commotion will distort the facts and push the situation into dangerous directions."

Iraq also warned that it would "take into consideration" inspectors' conduct while in Iraq and whether they respect the national dignity of the Iraqi people and their country's security, independence and sovereignty.

Iraq in the past accused inspectors of acting as spies and clashed with the United Nations on providing them access to sensitive sites such as presidential palaces, areas that again could be troublespots.