Blix lists 12 disarmament tasks left for Iraq

2.30pm

UNITED NATIONS - Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix produced a "to do" list of 12 disarmament tasks Iraq should fulfill as he began to withdraw his inspection ahead of a likely war.

Blix's "key remaining disarmament tasks" are required under a 1999 resolution that calls for a work programme Iraq is to undertake. The 83-page report was distributed to UN Security Council members today and obtained by Reuters.

Blix asks for explanations from Iraq in the following areas: Scud missiles and associated biological and chemical warheads; SA-2 missile technology; research and development of all missiles and their components; munitions for chemical and biological agents; and spray devices and drones.

On chemical and biological arms he asked for information on the deadly chemical VX gas and its precursors; mustard gas and its precursors; sarin, cyclosarin and their precursors; and any remaining stocks of anthrax and undeclared biological agents, including smallpox.

The report did not say Iraq was still harbouring dangerous arms but indicated clearly that inspectors were not satisfied with information Baghdad had given on its weapons of mass destruction.

Blix last week, in a fuller report on the outstanding questions, criticised Iraq for not declaring a drone some US officials say may be a "smoking gun." But he said his disarmament teams still had to determine if it was legal.

UN arms inspectors had said they discovered an undeclared Iraqi drone with a wingspan of 7.45m, suggesting an illegal range that could threaten Iraq's neighbours with chemical and biological weapons.

Blix also recently disputed Iraq's claim to have destroyed 21,000 litres of biological-warfare agents, including anthrax, 12 years ago.

The report, drawn up by Blix's UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, came on the day UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced he was pulling all UN staff out of Baghdad, including more than 100 inspectors, many of whom were seen packing their bags.

Earlier the United States, Britain and Spain gave up diplomacy at the United Nations, withdrew a UN Security Council draft resolution authorizing force and blamed France for not being able to get the minimum nine votes needed for adoption.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq