Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/12/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON/IRAQ (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-303120

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S forces have detained two more top Iraqi government fugitives. V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports they are Iraq's armed forces chief of staff and a prominent biological weapons scientist, known as "Doctor Germ."

TEXT: Rihab Rashid Taha is not on the U-S military's list of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi regime fugitives.

But defense officials say, because of the microbiologist's role in Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program, she is considered a critical capture.

"Doctor Germ," as she is nicknamed, has a background in the development of biological weapons, including the production of germ warfare agents, such as anthrax.

She is the second top female Iraqi scientist involved with biological weapons who has been taken into custody. Last week, defense officials confirmed the capture of Huda Salih Madhi Ammash, a Baath party official known as "Mrs. Anthrax".

The captures coincide with the recent discovery by coalition forces of what appeared to be an Iraqi mobile biological weapons laboratory. Experts are currently examining it closely for traces of lethal agents.

Defense officials on Monday also confirmed the capture of the second-highest-ranking official on the list of 55 -- Ibrahim Ahmad abd al Sattar Muhammad (al-Tikriti), the former armed forces chief of staff, who is listed as number 11 among the U-S Central Command's most-wanted regime leaders.

Few details on his detention were immediately available.

The only Iraqi higher-placed on the list already taken into custody is the country's former air defense force commander, who was number 10. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/TW