UN inspectors visit chemical facility in Iraq

United Nations arms inspectors today visited a chemical facility in Iraq as part of their ongoing probe of the country's suspected weapons programme.

A team from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) went to the Chemical Engineering Design Centre in Baghdad.

The Centre, which is part of a mechanical design establishment that was inspected on Saturday, "is involved in various projects for chemical and petrochemical production facilities," explained Hiro Ueki, a UN spokesman in Baghdad. The team examined archives and current projects, and also looked into management and personnel.

Also today, an UNMOVIC multidisciplinary team inspected the General Commission of Customs in Baghdad – Iraq's central customs authority.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected two sites: the Eyz Company and the Salam Factory in Baghdad. "The Eyz Company produces generic electronic equipment, such as radio communications equipment, power distribution equipment, telephone switching boards," Mr. Ueki said. "The Salam Factory produces mainly communications equipment for both civilian and military applications."