IAEA Media Advisory

IAEA Media Advisory 2003/1503 (15 March 2003)

News Update on Iraq Inspections

UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq, 15 March 2003

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

15 March 2003 -- An UNMOVIC missile team supervised at the Taji Technical Battalion the destruction of 3 more Al Samoud 2 missiles, one launcher, and some parts of warhead and propellant tank. Another missile team went to the Al Qaid Warhead Filling Plant of the Al Qaa Qaa State Company and placed tags onto 5 Al Fatah warheads.

An UNMOVIC chemical team inspected the Daura Oil Refinery south of Baghdad to identify changes in the site during the last four years.

An UNMOVIC biological team inspected the Al Rhashidyah Military Store, which is located approximately 25km northwest of Baghdad.

An UNMOVIC multidisciplinary team flew by helicopter and inspected a site in the area of Jabal Hamryn, approximately 180km north of Baghdad. A Mosul-based multidisciplinary team inspected a large underground facility west of Mosul.

An IAEA team visited two large government-owned engineering companies: Daura SEHEE, south of Baghdad, whose main task is to manufacture vessels for the oil, gas and civil industries; and the Tho Al Fekar Plant, north of Baghdad, that manufactures components for small rockets. A second IAEA team performed a car-borne radiation survey 60km northwest of Baghdad.

The Government of Iraq submitted to UNMOVIC yesterday a list of names of additional persons who had been involved in the past chemical weapons programme. The list contains 183 names. In the 6 March UNMOVIC working document (pages 16-17), UNMOVIC pointed out that Iraq had listed less than 132 "experts, specialists, and technicians", to use Iraq's term, as having worked in the entire chemical weapons programme. UNMOVIC databases indicate that over 325 individuals were engaged in chemical weapons-related research or had responsible positions associated with agent production at the Muthanna State Establishment alone.

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.