While many Iraqis living in Jordan believe a war against their country is "coming soon", still they hope the UN weapons inspectors would be "objective" in carrying out their mission to help solve the crisis peacefully.

The Gulf News spoke to a cross section of Iraqis here and listened to their views regarding the UN inspectors mission, and the possible u.S. attack against their country.

"We hope things will be better," said 40-year-old medical doctor Mohammed, who preferred to be identified only by his first name. "We hope the inspectors would be unbiased and objective in their work," added the doctor who has been living in Jordan for three years.

An advance team of the UN inspectors is expected in Iraq today with some inspectors beginning work on November 25.

"I was not surprised at all that Iraq had accepted the Security Council resolution 1441. I was expecting that," said Abu Usama, a 54-year Iraqi tailor. "Iraq has no other choice but to accept the resolution," added the Iraqi citizen who has been living in Jordan for seven years.

"It aims at saving the Iraqi people. It was a hard alternative," said Hamed Abu Fahed, an Iraqi in his forties who works in a grocery in Jordan.

The resolution calls on Iraq to give the UN, "full, accurate and complete" details of its weapons programs by December 8. It also gives UN weapons inspectors sweeping new rights and the Security Council a key role before launching any attack on Iraq, in case Baghdad was not cooperating.

Arab countries, including Jordan, welcomed the resolution 1441 as well as the Iraqi acceptance to it, expressing hope it would present a beginning to a peaceful settlement to the Iraqi issue.

Another Iraqi citizen said he was watching the developments between his country and the UN with lingering apprehension. He believed that a war against Iraq is coming even if Baghdad cooperates fully with the UN.

"The UN resolution was just a postponement for a war and nothing more, and there are no "expectations in politics," he said.

"I expect it to happen late this year, while some expect it early next year," said 34-year-old Samia, who preferred not to use her real name. But, in case there is a war, " the results would not be easy," added the woman, who comes from an upper-class Iraqi family living in Jordan for nearly 12 years.

"Iraq is not a small country, its geography is different. (and ) even its people," she said, in reference to the several religi ous sectors and ethnic groups among the 22-million Iraqi ppulation.