UN INSPECTORS COME UP EMPTY

United Nations weapons inspectors wrapped up a search of Iraq's agriculture ministry yesterday and said they had found no evidence directly relating to weapons of mass destruction.

But team leader Achim Biermann of Germany, whose inspection ended a standoff laced with threats of United States military action against Iraq, held out the possibility that relevant materials could have been removed.

Iraq's official press hailed the result of the three-week standoff with the Security Council as a victory for Iraq.