U.N. Experts Report Chemical Warheads Find in Iraq Reuters Thursday, January 16, 2003; 12:56 PM
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.N. weapons inspectors found empty chemical warheads during an inspection of a storage area in Iraq on Thursday, a U.N. spokesman said in Baghdad. The spokesman, Hiro Ueki, did not give any estimate of the significance of the find during an inspection of the Ukhaider Ammunition Storage Area. He said an inspection team had gone there to inspect a large group of bunkers constructed in the late 1990s. "During the course of their inspection, the team discovered 11 empty 122 mm chemical warheads and one warhead that requires further evaluation," Ueki said in a statement. "The warheads were in excellent condition and were similar to ones imported by Iraq during the late 1980s. The team used portable X-Ray equipment to conduct preliminary analysis of one of the warheads and collected samples for chemical testing," the statement said. There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi side.
