United Nations: United Nations chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said on March 7
there was no evidence supporting US claims that Iraq was concealing proscribed arms
in mobile laboratories.
"No evidence of proscribed activities have so far been found," Blix told a Security
Council meeting on Iraq issue.
He said the inspectors found no evidence of underground chemical or biological
weapons production or storage facilities in Iraq.
Blix told the UN Security Council that his inspectors had looked into
several mobile facilities and large containers with seed processing
equipment before reaching the conclusion that there was no proscribed
activity.
He also welcomed Iraq's accelerated co-operation in the past month, but said
a "sober judgment" had to be made to assess its value.
He said it would take months to finish the disarmament compliance of Iraq.
Blix said Iraq's destruction of its al Samoud 2 missiles was a "substantial
measure of disarmament".
Till date, 34 al Samoud 2 missiles have been destroyed.
"The destruction undertaken constitutes a substantial measure of
disarmament. We are not watching the destruction of toothpicks. Lethal
weapons are being destroyed,'' he said.
He said no al Samoud 2 missiles were destroyed on March 7, but expressed
hope that the suspension is only temporary.
Blix also noted that Iraq is now providing inspectors with pro-active
co-operation.
PTI
