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Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

14 FEBRUARY 2003

       A team of four UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) chemical inspectors returned to the Al-Muthanna site to extract samples from five barrels in which mustard gas was destroyed the previous day, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. The barrels will be buried in the coming days. UNMOVIC confirmed that the purpose of the 14 February activities at Al-Muthanna was to "take samples to determine if mustard reacted to the extent expected [in the destruction process]." UNMOVIC stated that "Preliminary results show that the destruction process has been successful so far."
      Three UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the Al-Mansur State Company, which is an affiliate of the Iraqi Military Industrialization Organization (MIO), as well as the quality-control division of the Grain Production State Company located in the area of Al-Hurriyah and belonging to the Iraqi Ministry of Trade. The Foreign Ministry noted that the purpose of the inspection was for inspectors to familiarize themselves with the site locations and their activities.
      A second team of four biological inspectors traveled to the Diyala Governorate where they visited Diyala University's College of Science, and the Diyala Industrial Company for Dates and Foodstuffs, which the Foreign Ministry describes as a "mixed" sector (joint public/private) company. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported that inspectors also went to the Ba'qubah Food Canning and Date Processing Company Ltd.; another "mixed" sector company, and the Tuberculosis and Mental Diseases Center belonging to the Ministry of Health.
      UNMOVIC acknowledged that biological inspectors visited four newly declared sites on 14 February, but did not offer details on the inspections.
      According to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, a team of seven inspectors performed an aerial survey of the following areas: the Saddam State Company, the Al-Shahid State Company, the Al-Karamah State Company, the noncommissioned Chemical Corps Officers School (belonging to the Ministry of Defense), and a residential complex at the Al-Shahid State Company. UNMOVIC stated that a biological team conducted aerial surveillance of the Chemical Corps School.

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