Edited version of Iraq's weapons declaration

Edited version of Iraq's weapons declaration prepared for all Security Council members

17 December – United Nations officials today prepared to distribute to all 15 members of the Security Council copies of an edited version of the declaration by Iraq on its weapons programme.

The document, which runs in the thousands of pages, was screened first by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Each then prepared edited copies of their portion - the first on chemical and biological arms and the second on nuclear weapons - for the Council.

Asked about this development as he entered UN Headquarters this morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it was "important" that all Council members receive the text before they meet Thursday on Iraq. "But I think the actual analysis is going to come later," he added.

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