Tracking Inspections: 23 January 2003

Six inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) returned to the Al-Shaykhali warehouses (see inspections report for 20 December) belonging to the Iraqi Atomic Energy Organization located in Al-Tuwaythah. Inspectors checked tagged, photographed equipment and conducted radiation testing inside the warehouses, according to the Foreign Ministry. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) confirmed the inspection took place, as reported by the Foreign Ministry.

A team of four IAEA inspectors went to the State Company for Steel and Iron, owned by the Ministry of Industry and Metals (MIM), located in the Basra Province. Inspectors met with the director-general and asked him about the company's former director-general, the company's activities, the daily melting shifts of the ovens, and power consumption, the Foreign Ministry noted. Inspectors toured the steel factory, power station, and warehouses, and tested all areas for radiation, according to the ministry. UNMOVIC acknowledged but did not comment on this inspection.

Six biological inspectors visited the College of Medicine and the Biology Department at Al-Mustansiriyah University. Inspectors inquired about departments in the college, students, the teaching faculty, the number of Ph.D holders specialized in biology, and "why new installations were erected in the last four years," according to the ministry. Inspectors then toured the Biology Department and a laboratory belonging to the Chemistry Department, as well as a storage area.

A team of 25 chemical inspectors returned to the Al-Qa'qa State Company where they questioned "specialists" and toured production units, buildings, and warehouses. They also tested for radiation and "took photos of the lightning absorber at the key warehouses" as well as tagged equipment, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted. UNMOVIC noted that the chemical inspectors were there to continue its rebaselining of the complex. It added that a "metal analyzer" was used in the inspection.

A Mosul-based joint inspection team of 14 inspectors went to an air base in Tameem Province. Inspectors checked the entire base and asked about the storage areas and ammunition kept there since 1998, the ministry reported. UNMOVIC noted that this is the site of the Kirkuk Air field, stating that inspectors checked the munitions bunkers, aircraft hangars and utilities, storage areas, and administrative buildings at the site.

Another joint inspection team of 11 inspectors joined the missile inspection team at the Al-Kindi State Company. The missile inspection team of 18 had arrived by helicopter from the Al-Rashid Airport. Inspectors asked about changes at the company since 1998, the organizational framework of the company, and new buildings on the site. Inspectors toured the site and tagged equipment, the Foreign Ministry noted. UNMOVIC stated that Al-Kindi is located 400 kilometers north of Baghdad in the northern no-fly zone, adding, "This was the first such flight since an agreement was reached on the procedures during the high-level meeting [between IAEA/UNMOVIC heads and Iraqi officials] on 19-20 January." UNMOVIC also noted that this was the first time an inspection was conducted by teams coming from different UN bases and using different modes of transportation.

A team of six missile inspectors went to the Resins Factory at the Dhat Al-Sawari State Company (MIM) located in Al-Taji. Inspectors checked buildings belonging to the factory and met with a representative of the National Monitoring Directorate, whom they questioned about personnel, technicians, and engineers. They also inquired as to who benefits from the factory's production, the ministry noted. UNMOVIC referred to this site as the Al-Taji Resin Establishment and said it is located 40 kilometers north of Baghdad. It did not offer any details on the inspection.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections: 23 January 2003