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Iraq inspectors fly to suspect mine
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.N. arms inspectors have used helicopters for the first time since beginning their search for Iraq weapons of mass destruction. They flew to the Akashat uranium mine in Al Qaim about 420 kilometers (260 miles) west of Baghdad near the Syrian border, Iraq's Ministry of Information told CNN. Other inspectors were deployed to at least two other sites – the University of Mosul and a government missile plant in the grounds of a former nuclear facility. Inspectors last visited the Akashat mine on December 11, having traveled by road from Baghdad. On Tuesday, their helicopter was accompanied by two helicopters from the Iraqi Monitoring Directorate (IMD), the office liaising with the inspectors, Reuters reported. One of the IMD aircraft was carrying journalists from Western media. Missile experts went to the Al Mutasim company -- a government missile plant occupying the grounds of a former nuclear facility -- in Jurf Al Sakhar about 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Baghdad. Another U.N. team was conducting inspections at the University of Mosul, located in northern Iraq. Inspectors visited six sites Monday, including a facility that produces veterinary drugs, a pesticide plant, and an Iraqi army base where an inspection team began tagging Iraq's Al Fatah rockets. All of the Iraqi army's Al Fatah rockets, which are ground-to-ground solid propellant rockets, will be tagged this week, the spokesman said. The U.N. agency searching for evidence of a nuclear weapons program in Iraq said Monday that so far it has found no evidence of one, but it is too soon to draw a conclusion. Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said inspectors have found no proof Iraq lied in the declaration on weapons of mass destruction it presented to the United Nations. Iraqi officials said the declaration stated Iraq has no prohibited weapons. ElBaradei said IAEA lab tests of samples taken in Iraq have so far found nothing suspicious and there was currently no "smoking gun." However, he added: "We still have a lot of work to do before we can come to a conclusion that Iraq is clean. That would still require at least a few months." While the IAEA is searching for nuclear weapons, the U.N. Monitoring, Verification, and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC) is in charge of searching for evidence of biological and chemical weapons and high-powered missiles. The United States and Britain have said Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. If the United Nations finds evidence of such weapons, the U.N. Security Council may meet to discuss the possibility of launching military action against Iraq. ElBaradei's comments came after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein accused U.N. weapons inspectors of spying for the United States in preparation for an attack on Iraq. In a nationally televised speech delivered Monday, Iraq's annual Army Day, Saddam said, "Instead of looking for the so-called weapons of mass destruction in order to expose the distortions and lies propagated by those who endeavor, in vain, to deceive public opinion, the inspection teams are interested in collecting names and making lists of Iraqi scientists... giving special attention to military camps... and to other matters, all or most of which constitutes purely intelligence work." Saddam repeated his claim that the U.S. is leading the U.N. effort to search Iraq for evidence of prohibited weapons as part of a plan to dominate the region and control its resources. "We are fully prepared for everything and for any eventuality," he added. "Our success is in the hands of Allah and Allah shall repel the schemes of the infidels." White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Saddam's statements are "an attempt to divert attention from the fact that Iraq has still not shown signs that it will disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction." Former weapons inspector Scott Ritter has said some inspectors served as spies during previous inspections, which were cut off in 1998. The United Nations has denied its inspectors engage in espionage.
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