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Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

6 FEBRUARY 2003

      Inspectors conducted their first private interview with an Iraqi scientist on 6 February. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) noted in its daily briefing that the scientist is a biologist. International press has reported his name as being Sinan Abd-al-Hassan.
      An inspector from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accompanied Iraqis to the Al-Salam Factory in Salman Pak to observe the removal of "equipment and barrels" from this site, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. The items were transferred to a storage facility belonging to the Atomic Energy Organization in Al-Tuwaythah.
      Two IAEA inspectors returned to the Al-Shaykhali Stores to check the quantity of "Fomblin oil" in the laboratory and warehouses. Inspectors also inspected buildings containing destroyed reactors, the ministry stated.
      Another team of four IAEA inspectors continued with radiation testing over several areas, including: a garage belonging to the Company for the Transport of Construction Materials (Ministry of Trade) in Jarf Al-Naddaf; the seven Nisan warehouses; "some moving trucks" that were parked in front of the industrial quarter on the Baghdad-Kut road; and trucks parked in front of Al-Suwayrah Silo and in front of a workshop belonging to the State Company for Trading and Manufacturing Seeds, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported.
      UNMOVIC acknowledged but did not elaborate on the IAEA inspections. It did add, however, that a team of inspectors remained at the Al-Qanat (Canal) Hotel (the UNMOVIC/IAEA base of operations in Baghdad) to prepare mobile air-sampling equipment for use in the field.
      Six chemical inspectors went to the State Company for Water and Sewage and questioned the general manager about the company's activities. Inspectors also wanted to know if the company has quality-control laboratories, and about its use of chlorine gas, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the facility supplies drinking water to the 15 Iraqi governorates. It added that the general office of the company was searched.
      A team of six biological inspectors went to the Abraj Alcohol Company at Khan Bani Sa'd. Inspectors checked the warehouses, fermentation and distillery areas, and a maintenance workshop, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC noted that the company produces ethanol through fermentation.       A second team of six biological inspectors went to the Directorate of Teaching Laboratories in Al-Bab Al-Mu'azzam, Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the director about personnel and students training there, as well as the methods of diagnosing viral and genetic diseases, and cholera, and whether there were cases of anthrax. Inspectors checked labs and culture media storage areas, and a tunnel that links the hospitals in the complex, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted. UNMOVIC noted that the laboratories provide diagnostic services to the Saddam Medical Hospital and teaches postgraduate medical students.
      A team of eight missile inspectors traveled to the Ibn Al-Haytham Site to question officials about the guidance and control systems, as well as activities at the site, and rocket-assembly procedures. Inspectors checked and photographed buildings at the site. UNMOVIC said that the site is involved in the "technical and administrative aspects" of the ballistic-missile program.
      A team of four missile inspectors went to the Military College of Engineering where they questioned the college commander about activities there, including degrees offered as well as the college's relationship to other engineering establishments. UNMOVIC stated that the college is working on the design and development of supersonic wind tunnels and machines for fiber-reinforced composite materials. The statement added that inspectors went to the site to verify Iraq's declarations related to it and to establish a comprehensive monitoring mechanism.
      A joint team of eight inspectors went to the Air Defense Missile Site in Al-Habbaniyah to question the site commander about storage bunkers, open ranges, and the types of missiles stored at the site. Inspectors then checked the above-mentioned areas as well as a dumping site and "destroyed" areas, according to the Foreign Ministry. Samples were taken from the warehouses. UNMOVIC referred to this site as the Falluja Ammunition Depot and stated that inspectors searched 23 large ammunition storage bunkers and 81 outdoor storage areas during their inspection.
      A Mosul-based joint team of 13 inspectors traveled to the Arab Company for Chemicals and Detergents, which the Foreign Ministry reports is a public/private firm located in Baiji. Inspectors requested a site map and production records for the years 1998-2003. UNMOVIC did not provide details on 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