Posted on 04/15/2005 11:15:42 AM PDT by areafiftyone
UN reports removal at Iraqi nuclear sites, but no conclusions can yet be drawn
Dr. ElBaradei |
Since the United States-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been largely absent from the country and has had to rely on satellite imagery and other analysis for its twice-yearly reports to the Security Council.
Previously it had carried out widespread inspections of Saddam Husseins nuclear installations in an effort to verify his obligation to destroy his weapons of mass destruction following the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
In the course of this assessment, IAEA also focussed on areas where destroyed equipment from the former nuclear programme had bee stored or discarded, the agencys Director-General, Mohamed ElBaradei, says in the latest report. Satellite imagery has indicated that at least one site containing buried contaminated rubble has been extensively excavated.
The above assessments, however, need to be followed up through verification in Iraq in order for the Agency to draw conclusions, he adds.
He also says the IAEA has received no additional information that could shed light on the more than 340 tons of high explosives subject to UN monitoring that the Iraqi authorities reported stolen from a Government facility last October.
Before or after Saddam turned off the Weapons Inspector's monitoring cameras?
This is a joke ... right? ;)
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