"This is kind of an interesting little development," Mr. Bush said at the news conference, discussing the Iraqi move.

But those soldiers played no role in the Iraqi move, which occurred without a shot being fired.

Some Western diplomats here saw the Iraqi move as an attempt to increase the pressure on the diplomatic process in advance of the deadline.

Saudi Arabia has said nothing of the Iraqi moves.

Responding to the Iraqi moves, the Administration warned that it could take military action without notice.

The Iraqi move comes only a few months after Washington failed to win much backing for a military attack during the last crisis.

But Italy took a more positive view of the Iraqi move.

Iran officially condemned the Iraqi move late today, but the suspicion remained that it had at the very least not discouraged Baghdad's action.

But according to American officials, the Iraqi move did avert military action at least for today.

"I will describe them as being primarily just skirting the no-fly zone," he said of the Iraqi moves.