• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Tracking Inspections: 22 DECEMBER 2002

A reported 73 Inspectors visited nine sites as a team of four International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited the Al-Mansour Company (affiliated with the Military Industrialization Organization, MIO), located 15 kilometers north of Baghdad. The Foreign Ministry stated that Al-Mansour produces mineral water, distilled water, and gases. Inspectors inquired as to changes at the company since 1998, and toured the gas production plants, according to the ministry. UNMOVIC reported that Al-Mansour is an electronics factory of the MIO that "produces piece components (such as transistors and diodes) and some electrical goods for the Iraqi military and civilian sectors" as well as industrial gases and purified water.

The same group of inspectors visited the Al-Farabi Center (MIO-affiliated) nearby, which produces computer software, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC stated that Al-Farabi specializes in programming computers for business applications, and "provides contract services for documentation, archiving, and data processing services."

The inspectors then visited the Al-Tahrir Institute for Welding (MIO-affiliated) in Baghdad. This institute trains welders, according to the ministry. Inspectors toured workshops and laboratories there.

Inspectors conducted radiological testing and photographed the above-mentioned sites.

A group of 16 chemical inspectors visited Al-Nahrwan, located 40 kilometers east of Baghdad, which belongs to the Al-Basil Company (MIO-affiliated) according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors inquired as to changes at the site since 1998 and the nature of operations at the site. UNMOVIC stated that the facility contains several plants that produce chemicals for other companies. It is a previously declared dual-use and chemical site.

A group of 25 biological inspectors toured the Al-Kindi Company for the Production of Veterinary Vaccines, located in Abu Gharib, 15 kilometers west of Baghdad. The inspectors questioned the director as to the company's activities and any new equipment there. UNMOVIC stated that this site is a jointly held (public/private) company, and is a previously declared and monitored site. It produces a "variety of viral and bacterial veterinary vaccines, using basic glassware and techniques," UNMOVIC reported.

A group of eight missile inspectors visited the Al-Tabani State Company (MIO-affiliated), located in Al-Jadriya (Baghdad), which specializes in space research, the ministry stated. Inspectors questioned the director and "specialists" and toured the facilities. The company is also known as the Baghdad Space Research and Development Center, according to UNMOVIC, which reported that it is a scientific group, "which does space technology, space optics, atmospheric studies and remote sensoring." It also provides the telemetry systems for the Al-Sumud missile system.

A second group of six missile inspectors visited the "missile technical battalion" at Al-Taji, 40 kilometers north of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the director and checked and photographed equipment. UNMOVIC stated that this site belongs to the Iraqi military and is a missile storage area as well as a former Scud dump site.

A joint group of inspectors toured the ammunition storage area at Al-Taji to verify that all the kinds of ammunition there are conventional, according to the ministry. Documents at the site were checked.

Copyright (c) 2003. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org