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On eve of key report, UN inspectors continue arms probe in Iraq

On eve of key report, UN inspectors continue arms probe in Iraq

On the eve of a key report to the Security Council on United Nations weapons inspections in Iraq, UN experts on the ground continued their probe into the country’s illegal arms programmes.

On the eve of a key report to the Security Council on United Nations weapons inspections in Iraq, UN experts on the ground continued their probe today into the country’s illegal arms programmes.

A biological team from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) inspected the National Project to Control and Combat the Cattle Plague while another inspected the Chest and Respiratory Diseases Institute, both in Baghdad. “This Institute was formerly known as Tuberculosis Institute,” said spokesman Hiro Ueki in Baghdad. “The Centre undertakes diagnosis and primary treatment of respiratory diseases.”

Meanwhile an UNMOVIC chemical team went to the Al Basil Centre, Nahrawan, which develops the projects of the Al Basil Centre, Jadriyah (Headquarters) to the pilot plant stage.

Missile inspectors visited the Kadhimiya Plant of the Karama State Company, located in northern Baghdad, to hold technical discussions with the leaders of the Al Samoud missile project, as a second team inspected the Hittin State Establishment.

About 200 kilometres south of Baghdad, an UNMOVIC multidisciplinary team visited the Al Kut Military Hospital, a military hospital that serves active duty military and their families. “The facility is moderately large with 70 military officers assigned to the base,” said Mr. Ueki.

In Mosul a multidisciplinary team inspected the Baiji underground refinery located between Mosul and Baghdad.

As for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), teams conducted inspections at the Um Al Maarik industrial machining and foundry facility; the Salman Pak area, where a motorized radiation survey was performed; and the College of Science, the College of Education and the College of Engineering at the University of Mosul.