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Tracking Inspections: 4 January 2003

A team of four International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited the Al-Mamoun factory, which was visited by UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) missile inspectors on 3 January. Inspectors questioned "specialists" about the factory's activities and some newly acquired equipment before touring the site. UNMOVIC stated in its daily briefing that the plant manufactures composite propellant fuel for missiles and also has a small civilian manufacturing sector.

A group of five IAEA inspectors visited the Al-Abour State Company in Khan Dari, 30 kilometers west of Baghdad. Inspectors inquired as to the company's activities and affiliations, as well as about "aluminum pipes received by the Dhu Al-Faqar Factory from 1998 to 2002." Inspectors visited storage areas and inventoried pipes received in 2002. In addition, they visited the aluminum smeltery and conducted radiation testing. Inspectors took two pipes: "one of them is mechanically worked and the other is not," according to the ministry. According to UNMOVIC, Al-Abour "refurbishes machine tools and produces spare parts for the civilian and military sector[s]."

A team of 14 chemical inspectors visited production units and laboratories at the Ibn Sina State Company, 25 kilometers north of Baghdad, and questioned the director general about company personnel, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC stated that the site is located at Al-Tarmiya, 60 kilometers northwest of Baghdad, and describes it as a chemical research center and former uranium-enrichment facility.

A group of eight inspectors went to the Al-Chabash site at the Al-Suwayrah air base and questioned the commander about the base and changes made there since 1998. Inspectors also checked storage areas at the site. UNMOVIC referred to this site as the Shaykh Mazhar Airfield and said it is "a large airfield located in the southern no-fly zone."

A team of 13 biological inspectors visited the Al-Khalis Alcohol Factory where they inquired about production capacity and changes made there since 1998, including personnel changes, as well as the type of ferment used in production, the ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the site is located 60 kilometers north of Baghdad, and it produces alcohol for local markets and medicinal use.

A second group of 13 biological inspectors visited the Agricultural College of Basra, where they met with the dean and inquired about the departments, teaching staff, and research conducted there since 1998. Inspectors also visited the "factory of food manufacturing" and checked the Iraqi declaration against equipment, the ministry stated. The inspectors also went to the College of Education and met with its dean. The ministry added that inspectors requested a list of the head of departments and research conducted there before touring and tagging equipment. Inspectors also inquired about the staff of the biology department. UNMOVIC did not elaborate on this inspection site.

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