Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq

UNMOVIC/IAEA

March 5, 2003

5 March 2003 -- An UNMOVIC missile team supervised the destruction of 9 more Al Samoud 2 missiles. Another missile team observed the concrete casing of the two destroyed casting chambers.

UNMOVIC conducted a private interview with an Iraqi scientist this afternoon.

An UNMOVIC chemical team returned to the Al Muthanna site and supervised the final disposal of the neutralized mustard. A second chemical team inspected two plants in the Al Qa Qaa complex.

An UNMOVIC biological team returned to the Al Aziziyah Airfield and Firing Range to supervise a further excavation of R-400 bombs. A second biological team visited the Bashair Trading Company in Baghdad to assess their involvement in the acquisition of mobile laboratory facilities. A third biological team inspected the Samarra East Airfield about 90km north of Baghdad. This site is used for the flight-testing of remote piloted vehicles (RPVs).

A Mosul-based multidisciplinary team inspected Salahaddin University in Irbil. Another team inspected the Mosul Gas Electric Company.

One IAEA team inspected a State-owned trading company, and another IAEA team inspected the computer centre of a State bank. Both sites are located in central Baghdad. A third IAEA team performed a car-borne radiation survey in an area southeast of Baghdad.

Hiro Ueki Spokesman for UNMOVIC and the IAEA in Baghdad