No evidence to prove Iraq has nuclear program: IAEA official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 19, 2002

No evidence to prove Iraq has nuclear program: IAEA official

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The UN inspection teams in Iraq so far have not found evidence proving that Baghdad has developed nuclear program since 1998, Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram Wednesday quoted an expert from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)as saying.

In an interview with the newspaper, Mohamed El Baradae, director-general of IAEA, said a report to be presented Thursday to the UN Security Council on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction is a "very initial" one.

He said the report will recommend continuing inspection process without informing the Iraqi authorities in advance, environmental monitoring and satellite surveillance, and meeting with Iraqi scientists.

He did not rule out the possibility of interrogating Iraqi scientists in accordance with the requirement of the UN Resolution 1441.

He also disclosed that the IAEA received information on the Iraqi nuclear program from some countries, adding that the agency is awaiting much more information from other countries.

Currently over 100 UN arms experts from the IAEA and the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) carried out their almost daily field operations in Iraq.

While the IAEA focus on nuclear weapons, UNMOVIC specializes in searching for biological and chemical weapons as well as long-rangeballistic missiles.

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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