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UN officials conduct 3 more private interviews as inspections press forward in Iraq

UN officials conduct 3 more private interviews as inspections press forward in Iraq

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United Nations officials conducted three more private interviews today with Iraqi individuals as inspection activities continued at various facilities.

According to a UN spokesman in Baghdad, the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) conducted two separate private interviews with Iraqi individuals. The questioning of a senior scientist lasted approximately four hours while another interview with a missile expert lasted approximately two-and-a-half hours. In both cases, no Iraqi witnesses were present during either interview, which addressed a number of relevant issues.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also conducted a private interview with an Iraqi chemical engineer. No Iraqi witness was present during that interview, which lasted approximately two-and-a-half hours. "A broad range of technical matters was covered during the interview," spokesman Hiro Ueki said.

In today's inspection activities, an UNMOVIC chemical team visited the Al Wathba Water Project in Baghdad, while multidisciplinary teams inspected two sites, the Suwaira Stores Plant Protection Division, which stores pesticides, and the Technical Institute, which trains skilled workers.

In Al Kut, approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, an UNMOVIC biological team inspected a combined agricultural and ammunition storage site. A second biological team performed an aerial inspection on two sites: the Samarra Drug Industry and the Salah Ad Din State Company.

Meanwhile, an UNMOVIC missile team inspected the Al Waziriyah site, which is the headquarters for the development of the Al Samoud Missile.