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Tracking Inspections: 8 January 2003

A reported 56 inspectors visited eight sites on 8 January. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) teams continued their focus on Iraqi cement factories, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. A team of two IAEA inspectors toured the Al-Samawa Cement Factory in Al-Muthanna Province, 350 kilometers south of Baghdad; another group of inspectors (no number given) toured the Al-Kufa Cement Factory in Al-Najaf, 240 kilometers south of Baghdad. A third team of three inspectors toured the Karbala Cement Factory in Karbala, approximately 250 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. The ministry noted that the purpose of visiting the factories was to check the amounts of HMX explosives at these mining sites. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) did not provide further details on this inspection.

A joint team of eight UNMOVIC inspectors toured the Machines and Instruments Department at Al-Nasr State Company for the Maintenance of Irrigation Projects located in the Al-Saidiya area of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the department head about the types of equipment at the site, from where the department obtains spare parts, the number of people working there, and whether or not the department cooperates with the military, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. UNMOVIC did not provide details on this inspection.

A joint team of 11 inspectors visited the State Company of Drug and Medical Equipment Industry in Nineveh, located 10 kilometers north of Mosul Province and belonging to the Military Industrialization Organization (MIO), according to the ministry. Inspectors questioned the site director about the "drug marketing mechanism" and the ports where products traverse. Computers and records were also inspected. UNMOVIC referred to this as the Nineveh Drug Industry site.

which UNMOVIC calls the Nineveh Factory for Intravenous Drugs Production. UNMOVIC stated that this is a subsidiary of the Nineveh Drug Industry company. Inspectors questioned the plant's director as to the number of personnel, including the number of employees with advanced degrees, and the types of production at the plant, according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors also toured the plant. UNMOVIC stated that this was a "follow-up" inspection.

A team of 12 biological inspectors visited the Saddam Medical College in the Al-Kadimiya area of Baghdad. Inspectors met with a representative of the National Monitoring Directorate at the site. Inspectors asked about the types of degrees offered, the number of students, and how students are screened for acceptance, the ministry stated. Inspectors also questioned the head of the Microbiology Department as to research conducted there, particularly research on microbiological resistance against antibiotics. Inspectors also toured departments and storage areas and electric energy converters owned by the college. Tagged equipment was also checked, according to the ministry. UNMOVIC did not elaborate in detail on this inspection.

A team of nine chemical inspectors visited the Chlorine Plant belonging to the Al-Tariq State Company (MIO owned) in the Al-Saqlawiyah area of Al-Anbar Province, located 90 kilometers northwest of Baghdad, according to the Foreign Ministry. This site was previously inspected by chemical inspectors and is known as Falluja II, according to UNMOVIC. British Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned this site in his report on Iraq for producing chemical weapons. Inspectors toured the site and its storage areas, and questioned the director about equipment at the site, the Foreign Ministry reported. In addition, soil samples were taken from a storage area. UNMOVIC stated that inspectors sought to clarify several issues during their inspection.

A team of nine missile inspectors returned to the Al-Mamoun Plant of the Al-Rashid State Company, 60 kilometers south of Baghdad, to tag Al-Fatah missile engines. Inspectors also observed the casting of solid propellant into an Al-Fatah motor case in the propellant production area, according to UNMOVIC, which said that this marked the second time inspectors had observed propellant production activities at the site (see inspections report from 31 December). Inspectors questioned experts at the site about Iraq's missile production capabilities, UNMOVIC stated.

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