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Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

2 FEBRUARY 2003

      An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of seven inspectors went to the Akashat Mine affiliated with the State Company for Phosphates and located 400 kilometers west of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the project manager about the mine's affiliations, the number of personnel and their specialties, the mine's budget and funding sources, and equipment procured at the mine since 1998. Inspectors also inspected a chemical laboratory and "the site where (Al-Qa'qa) explosives are used at the quarry," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) noted in its daily briefing that inspectors also performed a mobile radiation survey at the site.
      A team of five chemical inspectors went to the Al-Wahdah warehouses, which are affiliated with the State Company for Irrigation and Reclamation Projects of the Ministry of Irrigation. The warehouses are located in Basmayah, approximately 30 kilometers east of Baghdad, according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors checked all containers, warehouses, and storage areas at the site. UNMOVIC reported that this site is 30 kilometers south (not east) of Baghdad, and said that the site belongs to the Baghdad Water Supply Authority. It added that inspectors carried out a "re-baselining inspection" at the site.
      Six missile inspectors went to the Al-Qa'qa State Company and inspected the Sa'd Factory (a nitric acid factory, according to UNMOVIC). Inspectors also questioned the factory manager about the factory's capacity, production, and "the concentration percentage of nitric acid," the Foreign Ministry noted. A mechanical workshop was inspected along with the nitric acid building and the ammonia-storage building. UNMOVIC did not elaborate on this inspection.
      A second team comprising four missile inspectors went to the Al-Sumud Factory belonging to the Al-Karamah State Company in Abu Gharib. Inspectors verified equipment and "devices" and inspected all buildings, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC did not provide details of the inspection but stated that the site produces components and the "final assembly" of the Al-Sumud missiles.
      A third group of 10 inspectors traveled to the Al-Milad State Company, 30 kilometers south of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned technical staff at the site about the guidance and control development programs, and verified Iraqi declarations on the site. UNMOVIC stated that the site is the "Al-Milad Military Research and Development Company" and noted that it specializes in "the design and development of missile guidance and control systems."
      A team of UNMOVIC inspectors (number not specified) conducted aerial reconnaissance for the second day in a row, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Inspectors flew over the Diyala Governorate, Ba'qubah City, and focused on the Al-Qadisiyah Company for Electrical Industries before photographing "military sites" over Abu Sayda and the Al-Maqdadiyah district.
      A group comprising 11 biological inspectors went to the Abu Gharib Dairy Plant affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Minerals (MIM). Inspectors checked warehouses, the production and quality-control departments, cooling chambers, a dumping site, and administrative offices, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC called this site the "State Enterprise for Dairy Products" and stated that the site produces a variety of dairy products, calling it "one of the largest of its kind in Iraq."
      A second group of eight biological inspectors went to the Al-Nu'man State Company in Al-Za'faraniyah. The inspectors questioned the manager about production and field tests and inspected warehouses, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC noted that inspectors took samples from the site but did not elaborate.
      A joint inspection team of 14 traveled to the Second Corps Fuel Tanks Site affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and located in Al-Maqdadiyah area of the Diyala Governorate, 150 kilometers east of Baghdad. Inspectors photographed and checked all fuel tanks at the site and photographed the site from the air, according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors also took a sample of fuel, the ministry noted. UNMOVIC did not comment on this inspection.
      A joint team of 11 inspectors went to Irbil University where they questioned the vice president about the university's colleges and funding. They specifically asked about the College of Science and whether the university has relations with other Iraqi or regional universities. The biology and chemistry departments were inspected in the College of Science, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry added. UNMOVIC did not acknowledge 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