United Nations: Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has said he has seen no
evidence so far that Iraq used banned weapons in its ongoing conflict with the US-
led coalition.
Asked by reporters at UN headquarters on March 27 about reports that Iraq had used
missiles that exceeded the permitted 150-kilometre range, Blix, executive chairman
of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), said what he
had heard from US officials was that they had not seen any scud missiles.
He said the Iraqis had probably used al Fatah missiles, which have a range of around
150 kilometres or "a wee bit over".
Asked whether the use of these missiles constituted a violation of UN norms, he
said, "No, but the inspectors would like to have accurate information about it.
"So far we have not identified or heard from the allies that anything that was
proscribed have been used," he added.
Queried about the likelihood of the Iraqis using chemical or biological weapons in
case they possessed them, Blix replied that this was unlikely "because then the
world would say they are liars.
"Besides, it would also then change the attitude of the world towards the armed
conflict," he added.
UN inspectors looking for banned weapons in Iraq were asked to leave by Secretary
General Kofi Annan just before the coalition forces attacked Iraq last week.
PTI
