UN Iraq inspections body mourns death of former team member David Kelly

The United Nations body set up to monitor the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction today mourned the death of David Kelly, a key former staff member involved in the arms probe.

Mr. Kelly “was well known for his professionalism and for the respect that his colleagues had for him,” the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) said in a statement released in New York.

The late staff member worked extensively for UNMOVIC's predecessor, the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), from 1991 to 1998, including serving as Chief Inspector in Iraq on many occasions.

In August, 1991, he led the first UNSCOM bioweapons inspection team in the country, inspecting the facility Salman Pak.

In 1999, Mr. Kelly provided an assessment and overview of Iraq's suspected germ warfare programme. More recently he worked a lecturer and instructor for UNMOVIC's advanced bioweapons training courses.

The Commission said that from November 2000 to February 2003, Mr. Kelly “helped to train many of UNMOVIC's bioweapons inspectors.”

UNMOVIC extended its “deepest sympathies” to members of Mr. Kelly's family.