Iraq: UN inspectors visit medical importer, chemical plant

United Nations weapons inspectors continued their checks of facilities in Iraq today, visiting a medical equipment importer and a chemical plant.

A biological team from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) inspected two sites of the State Company for Drugs and Medical Appliances Marketing, which imports, among other things, medical equipment and supplies.

The first is located at Al Addile, about 10 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, and the second is at Al Dabash, about 28 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, according to a UN spokesman.

An UNMOVIC chemical team visited the Al Mamoun Factory of the Al Rasheed State Company and inspected a polyester plant, chemical stores and rubber and plastic workshops. Meanwhile, a multidisciplinary team was unable to fly to an inspection site by helicopter due to weather conditions.

Late yesterday afternoon, a missile team was able to witness a static test firing of the Al Samoud missile engine after the morning test was postponed for technical reasons.