Tracking Inspections: 26 January 2003

Two International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors spent two hours conducting a motorized radiation survey around the Salman Bak area of Baghdad.

Another five IAEA inspectors questioned the assistant to the president of Mosul University about the number of colleges in the university and their departments, the names of the college deans, the number of students, teaching staff, the number of postgraduate students, and the number of holders of doctoral degrees. Inspectors toured the colleges of Education, Engineering, and Science to examine laboratories in each, the Foreign Ministry stated.

A team of three IAEA inspectors went to the Umm Al-Marik State Company (belonging to the Military Industrial Organization) located 30 kilometers south of Baghdad. Inspectors checked the drawing plant, examined machines, and observed ongoing drawing operations there, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors asked about furnaces and the melting temperature, and conducted a radiation check of a lightning rod there, the ministry stated. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) stated that the company is an "industrial machining and foundry facility."

A team of seven biological inspectors visited the Cattle Plague Laboratory affiliated with the State Veterinary Company (Ministry of Agriculture) located at Shaykh Omar Street, Baghdad. Inspectors met with the "Cattle Plague Project Manager" and questioned him about project activities, the date of the last reported case of plague, infected animals, the number of samples received for examination, as well as which sectors cooperate with the lab, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Inspectors checked labs belonging to the quality control department and verified tagged equipment. UNMOVIC refers to this site as the "National Project to Combat and Control the Cattle Plague."

Six biological inspectors went to the Institute for Chest and Respiratory Diseases, affiliated with the Ministry of Health's Health Prevention Directorate, located in Bab Al-Mu'azzam. Inspectors questioned employees as to why the institute's name was changed since 1998, the types of cases treated there, whether or not tuberculosis is on the rise, and whether the institute diagnoses cases of leprosy, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors toured the laboratories and videotaped a declared device, according to the ministry. UNMOVIC stated in its daily briefing that it is formerly known as the "Tuberculosis Institute," and added that the institute undertakes diagnoses and primary treatment of respiratory diseases.

A team of six chemical inspectors returned to the Al-Nahrawan site of the Al-Basil State Company in Baghdad. Inspectors questioned "experts" there on production at the site, the types of chemicals produced there, and who benefits from the oil products produced there. Inspectors also asked about the capacity of the production units, the Foreign Ministry stated. Inspectors took eight samples (two liquid and six rubbings) from various production sites, the ministry added. UNMOVIC did not provide details on the inspection, but stated that the company "develops the projects of the Al-Basil Center, Jadiriyah [Headquarters] to the pilot plant stage."

Seven missile inspectors went to the Kadimiya Plant of the Al-Karama State Company at the Ibn Al-Haytham site 10 kilometers north of Baghdad. Inspectors met with plant representatives to discuss the Al-Sumud missile, "the reasons for changing the diameter of the missile, and the experiments conducted on it," the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors also asked several questions on the engines and control and steering mechanism, the ministry added. UNMOVIC referred to the meeting as "technical discussions" with the heads of the Al-Sumud missile project.

A team of 12 missile inspectors visited the Al-Rashid Factory belonging to the Hittin State Company, located approximately 50 kilometers south of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the factory's manager and some scientists about the factory's activities, the number of employees and engineers, from whom it receives financial support, and the future plans of the factory, before it verified declarations, according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC did not comment on this inspection.

A joint team of nine inspectors visited the Al-Kut Military Hospital in Al-Kut, Wasit Governate (160 kilometers south of Baghdad). Inspectors questioned the head of the hospital "about issues unrelated to the inspection activity," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry complained. Apparently, inspectors asked if the hospital receives active and retired military personnel or military personnel and their families only. They also asked about the number of beds in the hospital, if doctors are trained there, and whether the hospital contains laboratories, according to the ministry. All departments were inspected "except for the hallways," the Foreign Ministry stated, adding that citizens protested in support of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein outside the hospital gates. UNMOVIC reported that the military hospital serves active duty personnel and their families, adding, "The facility is moderately large with 70 military officers assigned to the base."

A Mosul-based joint inspection team of 13 returned to the Al-Jazeera Refinery belonging to the North Oil Company. Inspectors questioned a liaison officer from the National Monitoring Directorate on changes made at the site since 1998, what kind of maintenance has been done at the site, and "whether reserve tools are available" there, according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors were also briefed on the production process, and inspectors removed a "box of sensors at the refinery," the ministry added. UNMOVIC referred to this site as the "Baiji Underground Refinery" and said it is located "between Mosul and Baghdad."

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections: 26 January 2003