Kuwait City: Under a hot desert sun, US, Kuwaiti, German and Czech forces on October 21 conducted a mock drill in nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare to increase the emirate's level of preparation in the event of Iraqi retaliation if Washington were to launch a strike on Baghdad.

The exercise, organised by the Kuwaiti Civil Defence, was the first grouping units of all four countries under the Cooperation Defence Initiative (CDI) programme, sponsored by US CENTCOM (Central Command).

"It's impressive, and the first time all four have done it together," said Captain Christopher Logan of the US Marine Corps.

"It's a big joint effort but essentially a Kuwaiti exercise to determine themselves, but we all like to assist," Logan said.

In an NBC warfare scenario, two vehicles were sent off to simulate an explosion and chemical release. The Kuwaitis then activated their emergency services and called for assistance, bringing the US, German and Czech troops to the scene to help in vehicle and personnel reconnaissance and decontamination.

"This provides emergency response to people affected in the immediate area," said Logan, as German Fuchs vehicles and specialists helped identify the agent involved in the mock attack and the extent of contamination.

In the background, an expanse of desert was packed with protective equipment and tents, armoured vehicles, ambulances, fire engines and hundreds of soldiers clad in full protective gear.

The exercise was designed to boost inter-operability between all the forces, Logan said. The German unit provided command and control assets and reconnaissance, while the Czechs provided decontamination for personnel.

"They're training to manage the consequences of weapons of mass destruction," said Ron Rook, a consequence management expert in CENTCOM's CDI programme.

Four US experts -- a doctor, an emergency medical technician, a fireman and a police officer from Baltimore -- were on hand to evaluate the drill.

"It's been a success today in bringing together all the agencies, we're very pleased to see the success they're attaining in this exercise," Rook said.

The CDI programme involves US forces working with the Gulf Cooperation Council states, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, as well as Egypt and Jordan, in improving consequence management, Rook said.

Colonel Mustafa Juma, deputy director of the civil defence, rated the October 21 exercise a 70 per cent success.

"It was good as a start, I hope we're ready to deal with" any possible retaliation from Iraq, he said.

US Ambassador Richard Jones, who toured the area, said holding the drill was not a sign that US strikes on Iraq were imminent.

"You prepare for the worst, hoping for the best," Jones told reporters.

"For a first exercise, it's excellent," he said, stressing the importance of continued joint training "to keep units at the peak of their skills."

Fears of a possible US-led war on Iraq and its fallout in the region have prompted the Kuwaiti government to start implementing a series of contingency plans.