UN Arms Experts Search Academic Facility in Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 17, 2002

UN Arms Experts Search Academic Facility in Iraq

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UN arms inspectors Monday visited the Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Baghdad University, their first visit to an Iraqi academic facility since resuming search for weapons of mass destruction on Nov. 27.

A team of biological experts from the United Nations Monitoring,Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) completed full inspection of the building with the assistance of the director of the institute and chiefs of two departments, the experts' spokesman Hiro Ueki said in a statement.

The institute, engaged in training, teaching and research activities in biotechnology and genetic engineering, is a new site included in recent Iraqi declarations.

The team then paid a return visit to the Al Amiryah Serum and Vaccine Institute in Baghdad to seek clarifications from the former director of the institute.

The biological experts "took physical inventory of the institute and took some samples," said the statement.

Another two UNMOVIC teams of missile inspectors visited the Saad General Company and the Taji fiberglass plant respectively, both of which were allegedly involved in missile activities.

The Saad facility, located in central Baghdad and owned by Iraqi Military Industrialization Commission, is an engineering firm specializing in "engineering design, construction and commissioning of projects," Ueki said.

The facility "hires a number of personnel from the former nuclear weapons program organization, Petrochemical Complex-3 (PC-3)," the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, two teams from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited a total of seven sites, most of which were suspected of engaging in prohibited nuclear weapons projects.

On Monday, UN arms inspectors visited a total of 14 suspected sites in Iraq searching for weapons of mass destruction.

Currently over 100 UN arms experts carried out their almost daily field operations in Iraq. So far, no conflicts between the inspectors and their Iraqi "minders" have been reported. The experts are expected to submit their first report to the UN Security Council about Iraq's weapons programs on Jan. 27.

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