Blix disputes Iraq's anthrax claims

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations disputes Iraq's claim to have destroyed 21,000 litres of biological warfare agents, including anthrax, 12 years ago, according to a draft of a report obtained by Reuters.

Iraq had declared 8,445 litres (2,230 gallons) anthrax but the report estimates that 21,000 litres (5,447 gallons) of germ agents stored in bulk during the 1991 Gulf War included about 10,000 litres (2,641 gallons) of anthrax.

The report, a draft of which was obtained by Reuters, gives 29 "clusters" or groups of weapons programs and a "to do" list for Iraq in order to satisfy U.N. Security Council demands that Baghdad account for its weapons of mass destruction programs.

The 167-page report was drawn up by the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, headed by Hans Blix and will be distributed to ministers at a key meeting on Friday. It is separate from an oral report he will present.

It compiles every weapons program, past and present, and says what Iraq has done and what it needs to do, thereby giving ammunition to those Security Council members who say inspection are getting somewhere and need to continue and those who say the report shows how Iraq is not fulfilling U.N. demands.

Blix questioned Iraqi statements that it had stored all bulk biological warfare agents during the 1991 Gulf War at the Al Hakam plant and destroyed those unused after the war.

"There is credible information available to UNMOVIC that indicates that the bulk agent, including anthrax, was in fact deployed during the 1991 Gulf War," the report said. "The question then arises as to what happened to it after the war."

"Based on this information, UNMOVIC estimates that about 21,000 litres (5,547 gallons) of biological warfare agent was stored in bulk at locations remote from Al Hakam. About half of this, about 10,000 litres (2,641 gallons) was anthrax," Blix wrote in the report.

"It therefore seems highly probable that the destruction of the bulk agent, including anthrax, stated by Iraq to be at Al Hakam in July-August 1991 did not occur," the report said."

Blix said Iraq needed to provide documentation or other evidence to support its account.

The new report also said Iraq may be producing more banned missiles in addition to the Al Samoud 2 rockets it is now destroying and had declared last year to inspectors.

"Other missiles systems with ranges in excess of 150 km (93 miles) may possibly be under development or planned," the report said.

"Indications of this come from solid propellant casting chambers Iraq has acquired, through recent import, indigenous production or from the repair or old chambers," said the report.

The report had been eagerly awaited by nations opposed to war, who believe inspectors are working and should continue for months. Canada, on the other hand, has proposed the "outstanding issues" be turned into "benchmarks" with deadlines for Iraq to meet by March 28.

But for the United States and Britain, however, the report shows how many weapons issues Iraq has not yet clarified, despite Blix's comments to reporters on Wednesday that Iraq was beginning to actively cooperate with his inspectors.

He told a news conference on Wednesday that the destruction of the al Samouds "is the most spectacular and the most important and tangible" evidence of real disarmament.

On another top -- you will enjoy:

Ex-Attorney General Morales Indicted

.c The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales was charged Thursday with trying to steer millions of dollars in attorney fees from the state's tobacco settlement to a friend.

Morales, a Democrat who ran for governor last year, was also accused in the federal indictment of illegally using campaign contributions to help pay for a new house.

``This is a case of an elected official charged with abusing the public trust,'' U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton said. ``This indictment alleges that he violated that trust by backdating contracts, forging government records and converting campaign contributions to personal use.''

Morales, who left office in 1999, did not immediately return a call by The Associated Press, but told The Austin American-Statesman that he has done nothing wrong. He was expected to turn himself in to the FBI on Friday, authorities said.

The 12-count indictment follows a long-running investigation into the legal fees paid out from the state's $17.3 billion settlement with tobacco companies in 1998. Morales and Marc Murr, a Houston attorney and friend, were both charged with mail fraud and conspiracy.

As attorney general, Morales hired five private attorneys to handle the state's case and they received $3.3 billion in fees from the settlement. The fees soon became the subject of a federal investigation as allegations of wrongdoing surfaced.

In December 1997, Murr asked for $520 million for his role as an adviser to Morales, but other attorneys complained Murr did little work on the case. They challenged the fee, which was reduced to $1 million in arbitration. Murr later abandoned the claim after Morales' successor began an investigation. He returned $80,000 he had already received.

Michael Ramsey, an attorney for Murr, said the scope of the indictment is unfair and that he was disappointed Murr was included in the same indictment with Morales.

Morales left office in January 1999 after not seeking re-election. His successor, now-Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, joined federal officials in investigating the fees, prompting Morales to accuse the Republicans of pursuing a politically motivated investigation.

Morales and the five lawyers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

In November, Morales wrote a letter to Republican state leaders urging them to pursue a case against the five lawyers to recoup their legal fees, saying he had learned their conduct ``may constitute a breach of fiduciary duty to the state.''

Michael Tigar, an attorney representing the five lawyers, said Morales was trying to use the matter to boost his own political fortunes. No charges were filed against the five attorneys.

Morales was also accused of filing a false tax return and lying on a loan application.

According to the indictment, Morales transferred approximately $400,000 from his campaign funds to his personal account to help pay for a down payment and improvements on his new $775,000 home. Morales has said he used proceeds from the sale of another house.

Prosecutors also say he lied to obtain a $600,000 mortgage loan and filed a 1998 tax return he knew undervalued his income.

Conspiracy and mail fraud carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The loan application charge carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Morales lost to Tony Sanchez in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last year, and he later endorsed Republican Gov. Rick Perry. The governor has described Morales as a friend.

On the Net:

U.S. Attorney: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw

03/06/03 23:23 EST

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