Washington's worries over Iraq's demands for Atropine
Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/14/2002

The US has expressed concern over the information rumored by the mass media on Iraq's request of more than one million of doses of Atropine -- which is used for immunization against Khardal gas (chemical) from a Turkish company.

In a press statement a high ranking official at the US Department of State said that Washington is concerned over this Iraqi demand which includes 1.25 million dose which was handed over for the UN.

The source added that Washington discussed this issue with Ankara, adding that similar demands for the same material might be handed over to other countries which he did not identify.

For his part, the spokesman for the US Department of State, Richard Boucher, said that Iraq's demand for amounts of Atropine that exceed ordinary humanitarian needs is a source of concern because this might indicate preparations for using chemical weapons and the desire of Iraq to ensure protection for its forces from using these weapons.

On Tuesday, the US secretary of state Colin Powell said replying to a question in this regard in conclusion of a meeting he had held with the UN secretary general Kofi Annan that Atropine is a dual military and civilian use material, but its basic use is an for immunization against poisonous gases.

On Tuesday the New York Times daily quoted high ranking officials in the Bush administration saying that Iraq has asked, through a Turkish company to get large amounts of Atropine material which is an immunization for Khardal gas and that the US is pressuring the said company in order not to implement the contract.

Previous Stories:
  Los Angeles Times: CIA officials cooperate with the Kurds in northern Iraq   (11/13/2002)
  Four Iraqis wounded in US- British planes; Baghdad amnesty covered releasing 560 Arabs   (11/8/2002)
  Al-Qabas: Saddam Hussein revives 1991's offer from the Americans   (11/7/2002)

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