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13 February 2003

Iraqi Missiles Reported to Exceed U.N. Limits

(Missile experts finish analysis for UNMOVIC) (240)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Missile experts have determined that Iraq has
produced missiles exceeding the maximum range of 150 kilometers set by
U.N. Security Council resolutions, diplomats said February 12.
International missile experts met at the request of Hans Blix, head of
the U.N. Monitoring Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC),
to examine the data U.N. weapons inspectors have on Iraq's production
of the al-Samoud 2 and al-Fatah missiles. According to the data
obtained by the U.N., the missiles exceeded the 150 kilometer range
during testing.
The experts met in New York February 11 and 12. They came from seven
nations with missile programs -- United States, Germany, Great
Britain, Russia, China, France, and Ukraine.
Blix refused to comment on the experts' findings. He said that the
results of the experts' meetings will be included in the report he is
scheduled to give the Security Council February 14.
Blix told diplomats in January that, of 40 tests, the al-Samoud 2
exceeded the allowable limit 13 times. The al-Fatah was tested 33
times and exceeded the limit eight times.
The UNMOVIC chief has already told the council that Iraq imported
missile engines for the al-Samoud 2 and raw material for the
production of solid missile fuel in spite of the arms embargo imposed
on Baghdad by the Security Council after the Gulf War.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)