The former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix is to publish a book about the run-up to the conflict in Iraq, on the anniversary of the day that it began. The Swedish scientist, who last week said he believed that Iraq had destroyed most of its weapons of mass destruction more than 10 years ago, is thought to have received more than $1m (£600,000) for world rights to the book, which will be called Weapons of Mass Destruction. According to the publishers, Bloomsbury, Mr Blix will reveal details of meetings he held with world leaders in the months leading up to the war. The publisher said the book - which will be published in Britain on March 18 next year and is currently at a final draft stage - conveys the frustrations, tensions, pressures and drama of his meetings with George Bush, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Kofi Annan and others during the countdown to the invasion. It will also come out in the US, and other countries. In an interview with the Guardian in June, Mr Blix lashed out at the "bastards" who he said had tried to undermine him throughout the three years he held his high-profile post.