IT is only possible to marvel at Saddam Hussein's cunning. He is loathsome, vile, murderous and violent, but he is also marvellously cunning - especially when it comes to his own self-preservation.

By allowing the United Nations to return its inspectors to Iraq, as Saddam did yesterday, the dictator looks to have given the United States and Great Britain exactly what they wanted. But this is, in fact, exactly what they didn't want.

It immediately takes the wind out of the sails of the harsh resolution they were hoping to navigate through the UN in the next couple of days. All those UN waverers, like Russia and China, who might have supported the US two days ago will now point to Saddam's change of heart and say that diplomacy alone can bring him to boot.

Western public opinion was becoming more supportive of military action against Iraq. Tony Blair's bravado performance in Sedgefield a fortnight ago, plus his promise of real evidence, has shifted opinion. Three weeks ago it stood at 50 per cent against an attack on Iraq with 33 per cent in favour; now it is 40 per cent against with 36 per cent in favour.

But Saddam's move skilfully slows the momentum towards war, because the US and the UK now have no option but to delay their build-up to war.

They have to allow the inspectors at least a little time to go to work, if only to keep the international community on board. It would look very poor - and against the fabled British spirit of fair play - to proceed to an all-out assault when Saddam, at least in word, was complying with what was requested of him.

Yet, we can all guess at how he will comply in deed. He will procrastinate and obfuscate and shilly-shally. In fact, in his cunning he will probably invent new ways of delaying and making life awkward for the inspectors.

But still, by yesterday's gesture, Saddam has once again preserved his own power and his own life for a little longer.

The US and the UK must make the most of this delay by building their coalition within the UN. Our front page story today also suggests that Britain must look at equipping its troops far better if it expects them to go to war.

The US and the UK must also hope that the inspectors, in whatever time Saddam gives them before he tires of their presence, find real evidence of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

Only real evidence will legitimise a war against Iraq, and only real evidence will win the support of communities at home and abroad. Saddam may cunningly have preserved himself for the time being, but in the long term he may have banged a nail into his coffin.