IAEA Media Advisory

IAEA Media Advisory 2003/0203 (2 March 2003)

News Update on Iraq Inspections

UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq, 2 March 2003

For full coverage, see the pages on IAEA and Iraq.

2 March 2003 -- An UNMOVIC missile team supervised the destruction of six Al Samoud 2 missiles at Al Taji. Another missile team supervised the destruction process of a second casting chamber at Al Mutasim. This process will be completed tomorrow.

An UNMOVIC biological team returned to the Al Aziziyah Airfield and Firing Range to take samples from the R-400 bombs that Iraq claims were filled with biological agents. Samples were successfully taken from three intact bombs. Additional fragments of R-400 bombs were recovered and identified.

An UNMOVIC chemical team conducted a routine monitoring inspection of Falluja II approximately 100km northwest of Baghdad.

An UNMOVIC multidisciplinary team inspected an SA-2 missile support facility near Kadhimiya, Baghdad. This facility is engaged in the final assembly of the SA-2 missiles before they are delivered to operational units.

One IAEA team inspected a private trading company in central Baghdad. A second IAEA team performed a car-borne radiation survey north of Baghdad.

UNMOVIC requested a private interview with an Iraqi engineer today, but the engineer was not available for the interview.

In addition to the two private interviews that took place on the evening of 28 February, UNMOVIC requested two more interviews that day. The third interviewee, an Iraqi biological scientist, insisted that his interview be tape-recorded. The interview therefore did not proceed. UNMOVIC was informed by the Iraqi National Monitoring Directorate that the fourth interviewee was no longer in the country.

Hiro Ueki
Spokesman for UNMOVIC and the IAEA in Baghdad

About the IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA carries out programmes to maximize the useful contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.

Press Contacts

Marc Vidricaire
Director and Spokesperson
Division of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21270
m.vidricaire@iaea.org

Melissa Fleming
Head of Media & Outreach/Spokesperson
Div. of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21275
[43] 699-165-21275 (mobile)
m.fleming@iaea.org

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the IAEA's Press Section, or call the IAEA's Division of Public Information at (431) 2600-21270.