In Iraq, UN supervises destruction of missiles

In Iraq, UN continues supervising destruction of missiles

Three additional Al Samoud 2 missiles were destroyed in Iraq today under the supervision of United Nations inspectors conducting the international disarmament probe there.

Also destroyed at the Taji Technical Battalion were one launcher, warhead parts and a propellant tank, according to Hiro Ueki, a spokesman for the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

UNMOVIC missile experts also went to the Al Qaid Warhead Filling Plant of the Al Qaa Qaa State Company and placed tags on five Al Fatah warheads.

In another development, the Baghdad Government yesterday gave the UN a list of names of "additional persons who had been involved in the past chemical weapons programme," Mr. Ueki said. The list contains 183 names.

Earlier this month, UNMOVIC "pointed out that Iraq had listed less than 132 'experts, specialists, and technicians,' to use Iraq's term, as having worked in the entire chemical weapons programme," Mr. Ueki recalled. "UNMOVIC databases indicate that over 325 individuals were engaged in chemical weapons-related research or had responsible positions associated with agent production at the Muthanna State Establishment alone."

In other inspection activity today, chemical warfare specialists from the Commission probed the Daura Oil Refinery, located south of Baghdad, "to identify changes in the site during the last four years," Mr. Ueki said.

An UNMOVIC biological team inspected the Al Rhashidyah Military Store, while other UNMOVIC experts flew by helicopter to inspect a site in the area of Jabal Hamryn, approximately 180 kilometres north of Baghdad.

In addition, a Mosul-based multidisciplinary team inspected a large underground facility, Mr. Ueki said.

Meanwhile, an IAEA team visited two large government-owned engineering companies: Daura SEHEE, whose main task is to manufacture vessels for the oil, gas and civil industries, and the Tho Al Fekar Plant, which manufactures components for small rockets.

A second IAEA team performed a car-borne radiation survey 60 kilometres northwest of Baghdad.

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