EVIL PROOF [Brits Find Bunker Full of WMD's in S. Iraq Oil Fields]

The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 28, 2003 | Bruce Wilson

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EVIL PROOF
By BRUCE WILSON in London
28mar03

BRITISH troops have uncovered a bunker full of weapons of mass destruction in the southern Iraqi oilfields.

The Ministry of Defence released a dramatic video it said showed more than 100 chemical warfare protection suits and mounds of dozens of artillery rounds it said contained suspected "weapons of mass destruction".

It was not immediately clear if the weapons contained chemical or biological warheads. They were not believed to be nuclear.

The bunker had been recently deserted by fleeing Iraqi troops attacked by a unit from the Irish Guards, a spokesman said.

The film showed Guardsmen turning over chemical suits and standing beside piles of shells said to contain the deadly warheads.

For security reasons, the MoD would not locate the bunker beyond saying it was in the middle of an oilfield.

It added that British troops had managed to put out some of the fires started by the Iraqis as part of their "scorched oil" policy.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the find "proves categorically" that Iraq is ready to use weapons of mass destruction against allied forces.

The issue of protective gear to Iraqi troops in the south of the country had already indicated that Saddam Hussein may be considering the use of chemical or biological weapons, but fresh evidence uncovered over the past few days had proved it beyond doubt, Mr Hoon said.

He tried to contrast Saddam's readiness to use such weapons with the coalition's efforts to avoid civilian casualties, and repeated claims that missiles that killed at least 14 civilians in Baghdad yesterday may have been Iraqi rather than allied.

Reporters in Baghdad said the missile had almost certainly come from an allied aircraft.

The discovery of the weapons of mass destruction came at a time when British armour was preparing to fight what defence officials said was its biggest tank battle since World War II.

There has been a fear since the campaign started that elite Iraqi troops would be ordered to use chemical or biological weapons.

The well-built bunker shown in the film looked as if it had been occupied by well-equipped soldiers. However, they apparently fled without a fight.

Mr Hoon urged the public not to allow individual setbacks and delays to distract them from the overall picture of the campaign, which, he said. was unfolding successfully.

He said: "Coalition forces are making good progress in overcoming the resistance of the Iraqi security forces with great courage and resilience.

"This campaign is only in its eighth day. We all wish to see a speedy end to conflict.

"The campaign is going to plan. We are, with our coalition partners, involved in a deliberate and cautious endeavour. We will not stop until Saddam Hussein and his appalling regime has fallen from power and weapons of mass destruction are dismantled.

"We have time to see this through. Saddam Hussein's time is running out."

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