Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=1/25/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ/INSPECT (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-298796

BYLINE=TETIANA ANDERSON

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An Iraqi, believed to be a scientist, arrived at U-N offices in Baghdad Saturday with an Iraqi official, following a U-N request to talk privately to three of the country's scientists about possible weapons programs in Iraq. Tetiana Anderson reports from Cairo, officials say some of the scientists refused private interviews with U-N officials.

TEXT: The man arrived at a Baghdad hotel with an Iraqi official at his side.

The Associated Press reported that neither the subject, nor a U-N spokesman would comment on the outcome of the meeting, and that it was not clear if the interview took place with an Iraqi official present, as previously requested by other scientists.

On Friday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported that a request had been received from U-N representatives to interview three scientists.

Another news agency, France's A-F-P, quoted General Hossam Mohammad Amin, the head of the National Monitoring Directorate, Iraq's arms liaison body, as saying the scientists arrived at the agreed time and place, but did not agree that the interviews should take place "without witnesses or observers present."

A senior Iraqi official had said Thursday that the Baghdad government had tried to persuade scientists to be questioned by the U-N in private but that they had refused.

Washington claims that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has threatened the lives of the scientists and their families if they speak candidly to inspectors. (Signed)

NEB/TA/ALW/TW/RH