Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/25/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-301283

TITLE=IRAQ / BRIEFING / W-M-D (S-O)

BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON

DATELINE=DOHA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A top U-S general, briefing reporters at coalition headquarters in Doha, Qatar, says U-S forces in Iraq have not yet found chemical weapons or other weapons of mass destruction. But, as V-O-A's Roger Wilkison reports, the general says allied forces are concentrating on knocking out rocket and artillery systems that can deliver such weapons, rather than searching for the weapons themselves.

TEXT: U-S Air Force Major General Victor Renuart, said coalition forces are checking a number of alleged chemical weapons sites. But he says they cannot confirm finding any banned weapons.

His remarks came after unidentified intelligence sources in Washington were widely quoted as saying that the elite Iraqi Republican Guard is prepared to launch missiles and artillery shells armed with chemical warheads against coalition forces now approaching Baghdad, once they cross a so-called red line around the city and its outskirts.

General Renuart says coalition forces have made it a top priority to attack rocket and artillery systems that can deliver weapons of mass destruction.

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The ability that we've exercised so far to target those units that are capable of delivering chemical munitions has been very important for us.

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Besides targeting the surface-to-surface missile systems, the general says coalition air forces are also concentrating on hitting Republican Guard positions in and around Baghdad. (signed)

NEB/RW/AWP/RH/FC