Nerve gas allegation against Iraq to be tested by Swiss experts
Iraq-Switzerland, Politics, 7/8/1998

Iraqi sources confirmed that Iraq received a request from the Swiss government for a visit from three experts specializing in nuclear and chemical weapons, saying that the Swiss experts want to visit Baghdad to verify US accusations that Baghdad armed missiles with lethal VX nerve gas before the Gulf War.

The sources told ArabicNews.com that Iraq informed Switzerland of its approval, adding that the visit will take place soon, referring to the Iraqi government's desire that those experts find for themselves that the US allegations are untrue and that Iraq does not possess these weapons.

Recently, Richard Butler, the head of UNSCOM (UN inspection team in Iraq) said that his team found evidence that Iraq weaponized its missiles with nerve gas and said the evidence was found at a site that Iraq used to destroy its missiles.

Iraq disputes his findings and has called on other "unbiased" experts to examine the facts for themselves, and called on testing the alleged contaminated material found at the missile site at a different lab than that used by UNSCOM.

The sources added that the experts will work under UNSCOM supervision.

It is expected that the three experts' mission will last for two weeks and that Iraqi warheads will be transported to Switzerland for additional analysis.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq accuses U.S. of hostile intent   (7/1/1998)
  Hamdoon: Iraq may reconsider policy toward UNSCOM if sanctions remain   (6/25/1998)
  Iraq on its way out of the UN sanctions   (6/15/1998)

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