Blix, 72, was named as chairman of UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission in April 2000.

In an interview with the Cable News Network (CNN), Blix said when his contract expires on June 30, "it is right time for me to go home."

Blix also reaffirmed that the inspectors have no confirmation that Iraq has prohibited missiles or weapons of mass destruction.

Earlier, his spokesman Ewen Buchanan said that Blix will not look to renew its contract.

"He was not a volunteer and frankly speaking he hoped to be out of here one year ago," the spokesman added.

Blix, who served as Sweden's foreign minister in 1976-1978 and 1979-1981, led the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1981 to 1997.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2003)