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Tracking Inspections: 7 January 2003

A total of 70 inspectors visited 11 sites on 7 January. A team of four International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited the Al-Bakr (a.k.a. Balad Southeast) air base, located approximately 100 kilometers north of Baghdad. The Foreign Ministry noted that the purpose of the visit was "to verify the quantity of the explosive material type HMX, which was sent from the Al-Qa'qa State Company" to the air base. Apparently the HMX was used to destroy partially standing buildings that had been bombed by coalition forces. Inspectors visited the HMX storage area and tested the site for radiation, according to the ministry.

A second group of three IAEA inspectors visited the Kabisa Cement Factory, approximately 250 kilometers west of Baghdad in the Al-Anbar Governorate. Inspectors questioned the factory's director about engineering personnel at the site, as well as about the quantity of HMX located there. Inspectors also took samples from the mine where HMX is used and visited the Heet Area Ammunition Stores there. HMX was previously stored at the loacation.

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)stated that inspections carried out both at Al-Bakr and Kabisa were to verify information associated with other sites.

A team of eight biological inspectors visited the Saddam Center for Medical Genetics and Cancer Research, located in the Al-Qadisiyah district of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the director about the center's departments, activities, key personnel, current research projects, and any changes made at the center since 1998, before they toured all of the departments, according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC reported that the center performs cancer research "among other things."

A Mosul-based joint inspection team of nine inspected Mosul University. Inspectors divided into two groups upon arrival, according to the Foreign Ministry. The first group visited the College of Science's Chemistry Department. The department head was questioned about the names of professors and their research projects, and on the department's relations with the Military Industrialization Organization (MIO). The Foreign Ministry statement expressed shock at certain questions by inspectors, such as the department's relations with international universities and how the department benefits from Internet usage. UNMOVIC noted that the Mosul-based multidisciplinary team numbers 16 at the moment.

The second group of inspectors visited the College of Education at Mosul University and questioned the dean and an assistant scientist on their specializations, other departments at the college and the names of department heads, as well as about equipment procured since 1998, the ministry stated. Inspectors also toured the chemistry, biology, and physics laboratories and checked tagged equipment.

UNMOVIC stated that inspectors at Mosul University visited the library, related laboratories, and storage buildings, but did not specify which.

A team of eight missile inspectors returned to the Al-Karamah State Company in Abu Gharib where they questioned the director and checked two missiles that will be static-tested by Iraq in the coming days, according to an UNMOVIC statement. UNMOVIC identified this inspection site as the Al-Sumud Factory. The same team then went to the Al-Rafah site in Al-Amiriyah Al-Falluja, where inspectors "saw the motor which is connected to the test station," according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The motors were photographed at both the Al-Karamah and Al-Rafah sites. UNMOVIC identified this site as the Al-Mamoun Plant of the Al-Rashid State Company, adding that "some critical equipment was installed and tagged there."

A team of four missile inspectors returned to the area of Al-Falluja to continue tagging Al-Fatah ground-to-ground solid-propellant rockets, UNMOVIC reported. A third group of 11 inspectors went to the Al-Mutasim Factory. Inspectors toured some buildings and tagged "two blends" and the "mold reservoir," the Foreign Ministry reported. The Al-Mutasim site has a missile plant on the grounds of the former Al-Atheer nuclear facility 75 kilometers south of Baghdad (see inspection report from 12 December). UNMOVIC stated that the inspectors checked "the static test stand" where a missile test will be performed.

A group of 13 chemical inspectors traveled by three helicopters from Al-Rashid Airport (Baghdad) to the Al-Qa'im State Phosphate Company. This site, located 400 kilometers west of Baghdad, was inspected on 10 December. Inspectors questioned the assistant director-general about changes there since 1998 and production at the site before touring the facilities and retrieving samples of industrial waste. UNMOVIC stated that this company is primarily a fertilizer plant.

A joint UNMOVIC team of 10 inspectors went to the Al-Ukhaidar Ammunition Stores, located 70 kilometers south of Karbala. Inspectors questioned workers about activities at the site and toured all storage areas and verified that only conventional ammunition is stored there. UNMOVIC did not comment on this inspection.

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