News 2005

Weapons equipment missing in Iraq
June 3, 2005

By xinhuanet.com:

BEIJING, June 3 -- Material that could be used to make biological or chemical weapons, as well as banned long-range missiles, have been removed from Iraq.

UN weapons inspectors say material that could be used to make biological or chemical weapons, as well as banned long-range missiles, have been removed from Iraq.

UN inspectors were blocked from entering Iraq after the U.S.-led war in 2003 so they have been using satellite photos to monitor sites which were noted as having equipment for military and civilian uses.

In a report to the Security Council, the acting chief weapons inspector Demetrius Perricos says 109 sites have been emptied of equipment, up from 90 in March. He says it's unclear who removed the items or where they went.

He said they could have been moved elsewhere in Iraq, sold as scrap, melted down or purchased.

The chemical sites were the most depleted, with thousands of valves and pumps having disappeared.

Perricos said the missing material could be used for legitimate purposes, but also for prohibited purposes if they are in good repair.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

 

Source Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-06/03/content_3041216.htm