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Tracking Inspections: 5 January 2003

A reported 98 UN inspectors visited 16 sites on 5 January. A team of seven International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors returned to the Saddam State Company in Amiriyah Al-Fallujah to survey a factory that produces graphite rods. Inspectors sampled coal rods used to make the graphite rods and conducted radiological testing, according to a Foreign Ministry statement on 5 January. According to the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), "The plant has a project to manufacture graphite electrodes for use in [the] induction [of] arc furnaces for the Iron and Steel Industry in Iraq."

A team of 18 missile inspectors returned to the Sabea Nisan (7 April) State Company, which specializes in manufacturing artillery tubes. UNMOVIC stated in its daily briefing that the factory "contributes to the Iraqi missile programs with the development of fuses."

Four missile inspectors returned to the Al-Mamoun Factory at the Al-Rashid State Company to inspect and tag fuel tanks. UNMOVIC said the equipment tagged was related to solid-propellant production. A joint UNMOVIC team of eight inspectors visited the Al-Aziziyah shooting range in the Wasit Governate, where they took samples of bomb fragments. UNMOVIC noted that "Certain proscribed munitions were previously stored at the site."

A joint group of 13 inspectors visited the Ibn Sina Hospital in Mosul to inspect laboratories, the services building, the cafeteria, and to question doctors there. UNMOVIC did not provide additional details on this inspection.

A group of 13 biological inspectors visited the Al-Rashid Military Hospital where they inquired as to the hospital's activities and departments, as well as about changes made since 1998, the Foreign Ministry announced. Inspectors also checked declarations.

Inspectors then proceeded to the Central Military Medical Laboratory where they asked similar questions. UNMOVIC noted that this laboratory, as well as the above-mentioned site, are located in a complex owned by the Iraqi Defense Ministry.

Another group of 13 biological inspectors visited three institutions belonging to Basra University, UNMOVIC stated. They are the Microbiology Department in the School of Medicine, the Marine Science Center, and the Biology Department in the College of Science. Inspectors questioned "specialists" and checked equipment, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

A group of 20 chemical inspectors returned to the Al-Basil State Company at Al-Jadiriyah complex, which specializes in "oils, adhesives, anticorrosion materials, and pharmaceutical raw materials," the ministry stated. Inspectors checked buildings and labs and questioned scientists there. Also inspected at Al-Jadiriyah were the Al-Khawarizmi State Company, the Al-Tabani State Company, the Al-Majd State Company, a food-inspection laboratory belonging to the Trade Ministry, and a construction- and glass-research center. UNMOVIC noted that Al-Basil is a chemical and petroleum research center, adding that all entrances were frozen during the inspection, "though vehicles and people were allowed to leave subject to search."

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