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DATE=6/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234406
TITLE=PENTAGON - IRAQ-NERVE GAS  (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: PENTAGON OFFICIALS NOW CONFIRM THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS
FOUND TRACES OF A POWERFUL NERVE GAS ON DESTROYED MUNITIONS IN 
IRAQ.  THE FINDING CONTRADICTS IRAQI CLAIMS THAT THEY NEVER 
TURNED DEADLY V-X GAS INTO A USABLE WEAPON. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE 
REPORTS THAT PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE U-N SHOULD CONTINUE 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ, UNTIL BAGHDAD KEEPS A PROMISE TO
GET RID OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.   
TEXT: THE CASE INVOLVES V-X, ONE OF THE DEADLIEST NERVE GASES 
EVER DEVELOPED.  A DROP OF V-X ON THE SKIN CAN KILL A PERSON IN A
FEW MINUTES.  IRAQ IS THOUGHT TO HAVE PRODUCED SEVERAL TONS OF 
THE DANGEROUS, UNSTABLE BREW. 
IRAQI OFFICIALS ADMIT PRODUCING V-X, BUT SAY THEY NEVER MANAGED 
TO MAKE IT STABLE ENOUGH TO MAKE A USABLE WEAPON.  THEY ALSO SAY 
THE WARHEADS IN QUESTION WERE MADE BEFORE THE GULF WAR. 
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION 
CHARGED WITH DISARMING IRAQ -- CALLED UNSCOM -- SENT FRAGMENTS OF
IRAQI MISSILE WARHEADS TO A U-S ARMY LAB.  SCIENTISTS FOUND FOUND
EVIDENCE THEY HAD BEEN FILLED WITH THE DEADLY CHEMICAL.   
                        /// BACON ACT///
         IT REPORTED TO UNSCOM, THAT THERE WERE V-X ON THE 
         FRAGMENTS. 
                         /// END ACT ///
IRAQI OFFICIALS CALL THE LABORATORY FINDINGS 'LIES.'  HOWEVER, 
MR. BACON SAYS BAGHDAD IS DOING THE LYING. 
                        /// BACON ACT///
         BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR, IT DOES APPEAR TO BE A 
         CASE WHERE THE IRAQIS WERE  NOT  TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT
         THEIR CAPABILITY.  
                        /// END ACT ////
MR. BACON SAYS THE INCIDENT SHOWS THE NEED FOR THE U-N SPECIAL 
COMMISSION TO CONTINUE SEARCHING IRAQ FOR BANNED WEAPONS.   HE 
SAYS IT ILLUSTRATES WHY THE UNITED STATES HAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED 
THE U-N INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ AND WHY THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN 
TRYING TO GET INTO EVERY CORNER OF IRAQ TO USE SCIENTIFIC METHODS
TO SEARCH OUT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAT IRAQ CLAIMS DO  
NOT  EXIST.
THE CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER, IS SCHEDULED TO 
BRIEF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY ON THE LATEST
FINDINGS.  IRAQ AND SEVERAL OTHER NATIONS ARE PRESSING THE 
COUNCIL TO END ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT BADLY HURT IRAQ'S ECONOMY.
BUT MR. BACON SAYS THE SANCTIONS SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE REST 
OF THE WORLD CAN BE SURE  NO  MORE BANNED WEAPONS ARE HIDDEN IN 
IRAQ. (SIGNED). 
NEB/JR/TMD/GE
23-Jun-98 4:29 PM EDT (2029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.