DATE=3/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228633
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITISH OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE
IRAQI CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK ON BRITAIN, BUT STRESSED THERE IS
NO IMMINENT OR SPECIFIC THREAT TOWARDS THE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S
ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.
TEXT: BRITONS WOKE UP TO A BANNER HEADLINE IN THE MASS
CIRCULATION TABLOID SUN NEWSPAPER WHICH PROCLAIMED, "SADDAM'S
ANTHRAX IN OUR DUTY FREES."
IN AN EXCLUSIVE REPORT, THE SUN WARNS THAT HUGE AMOUNTS OF THE
DEADLY BIOLOGICAL AGENT ANTHRAX COULD BE SMUGGLED INTO BRITAIN IN
DUTY-FREE PERFUME SPRAYS, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, COSMETICS AND
BOTTLES OF SPIRITS.
/// OPT /// ANTHRAX IS A BACTERIA THAT CAN KILL WITHIN A FEW
DAYS OF INHALATION AND IS FATAL IN 80 PERCENT OF CASES. ///
END OPT ///
THE SUN SAYS THE EXTENT OF THE THREAT WAS REVEALED IN A WARNING
APPROVED BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND SENT OUT MARCH
18TH TO ALL BRITISH SEA AND AIR PORTS. THE NEWSPAPER OBTAINED A
COPY OF THE WARNING WHICH SAID, "IRAQ MAY LAUNCH CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL ATTACKS USING MATERIAL DISGUISED AS HARMLESS LIQUIDS.
COULD OFFICERS THEREFORE BE ALERT FOR ANY ITEMS WHICH MIGHT
CONTAIN HARMFUL SUBSTANCES."
SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE SUN'S REPORT. BUT AT THE
SAME TIME, JUNIOR HOME OFFICE MINISTER MICHAEL O'BRIAN TOLD
BRITISH RADIO THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM AND THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE THAT ANTHRAX HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO BRITAIN.
/// O'BRIAN ACT ///
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS THREAT
LIGHTLY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID
SCAREMONGERING. AND I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY
LIKELIHOOD THAT SADDAM OR SADDAM'S AGENTS WOULD BE
LIKELY TO PUT THE ANTHRAX IN THE DUTY FREES IN THE VAGUE
HOPE THAT SOME BRITISH TOURIST WOULD PICK IT UP. I DO
NOT THINK THAT IS PRACTICAL.
/// OPT /// EVERYONE HAS KNOWN THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN
HAS BEEN DEVELOPING BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS FOR
SOME TIME, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN SO TOUGH IN
CHALLENGING HIM OVER UNITED NATIONS INSPECTIONS. BUT
OUR INFORMATION IS ///. END OPT ///
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC THREAT TO BRITAIN. A NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES HAVE RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE ABOUT A POSSIBLE
THREAT FROM IRAQ. WE PERIODICALLY RECEIVE TERRORIST
WARNINGS (EDS: REFERENCE TO NORTHERN IRELAND) AND WE
ARE THEREFORE CAREFUL NOT TO CAUSE UNNECESSARY ALARM.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// MR. O'BRIAN SAID BRITAIN REMAINS VIGILANT AND
THERE ARE NO GROUNDS FOR FRIGHTENING PEOPLE. /// END OPT
///
BUT A BRIEF SOUNDING ON LONDON'S BUSY FLEET STREET INDICATED SOME
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED.
/// VOX POP ACTS ///
(MAN) I AM VERY CONCERNED, OBVIOUSLY. YOU DON'T KNOW
GOING OUT AND BUYING A NORMAL 'COKE' OR ANY SANDWICH OR
SOMETHING -- AND YOU FIND OUT THERE IS SOMETHING IN
THERE WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH AND TO
OTHERS YOU KNOW AS WELL. SO I AM VERY CONCERNED.
(WOMAN) IF THAT WAS TO GET RELEASED IN THIS COUNTRY -
OR ANYWHERE AT ALL -- GOD KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE IT COULD
KILL. I THINK IT IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY.
(MAN) I DON'T BELIEVE IT. IT SEEMS A BIT UNLIKELY,
DOESN'T IT? I AM STILL DRINKING THE DUTY FREE I BOUGHT
ON THE WEEKEND.
/// END ACT ///
AS FOR THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT, IT DENIED IT IS PLANNING TO SEND
ANTHRAX TO BRITAIN, DESCRIBING THE NEWSPAPER REPORT AS
RIDICULOUS. A SPOKESMAN IN BAGDHAD ACCUSED BRITAIN OF WANTING TO
SPOIL WHAT HE CALLED THE NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN IRAQ
AND THE UNITED NATIONS OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH
24-Mar-98 9:50 AM EST (1450 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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