IAEA Media Advisory

IAEA Media Advisory 2003/0403 (4 March 2003)

News Update on Iraq Inspections

UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq, 4 March 2003

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

4 March 2003 -- An UNMOVIC missile team supervised the destruction of three more Al Samoud 2 missiles. One Al Samoud 2 launcher and five Al Samoud 2 engines were also destroyed. Another missile team supervised the final stage of the destruction of a second casting chamber. Now the two casting chambers are considered totally destroyed.

UNMOVIC conducted last evening a private interview with a manager, who had been associated with Iraq's former chemical weapons programme. UNMOVIC conducted another private interview with an Iraqi scientist this afternoon. A second individual whom UNMOVIC sought to interview in private today could not be contacted.

[Note: On 1 March, one private interview took place; two interview attempts failed due to the insistence of the interviewees on having the interview tape-recorded or on having a witness present during the interview. One individual could not be located].

An UNMOVIC biological team inspected the Ibn Fernas Centre in northern Baghdad. The Centre is involved in the development and production of remote piloted vehicles (RPVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

An UNMOVIC multidisciplinary team conducted an aerial inspection of a facility in Kirkuk. The facility belongs to the North Oil Company.

An UNMOVIC chemical team conducted an inspection of the Al Basil Nawaran, located 20km south of Baghdad.

A Mosul-based multidisciplinary team inspected the Northern Region Customs.

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.