IK/157
SC/5754
22 November 1993
SPECIAL COMMISSION'S TEAM CONCLUDES ONSITE INVESTIGATION
OF ALLEGED CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE BY IRAQ
The following has been received from the Special Commission set up under
Security Council resolution 687 (1991) in connection with the disposal of
Iraq's weapons of mass destruction:
The Special Commission's team sent to Iraq to investigate allegations of
the use of chemical weapons in the southern marshlands north-west of Basrah
concluded its on-site work on 21 November. It is now reviewing its findings
and writing its report. No immediate evidence of the use of chemical weapons
was obtained. However, a large number of samples were taken by the inspection
team. A definitive finding on the question of use will not be reached until
all the samples taken at the site have been analyzed. This might take some
months.
The team, led by Roger Hill of Australia and comprising nine experts,
conducted its inspection of the site of the alleged chemical weapons attack on
20 and 21 November. During the inspection, the team conducted a thorough
inspection of the site and took a large number of soil, water, flora and fauna
samples which will be analyzed in various laboratories expert in the analysis
of such samples. The team also inspected the area around the site of the
alleged attack. Vehicles, boats and helicopters were used in the survey.
During the inspection, the team did not find any immediate evidence of the use
of chemical weapons.
In the course of its inspection, the Commission has also obtained some
documents, the authenticity and relevance of which are now subject to
investigation.
Analysis is expected to take some months to conclude. The Special
Commission will not, until the results of these analyses are available, be in
a position to arrive at a definitive conclusion on the question of whether
chemical weapons were used or not.
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