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U.N.: Interviews still being taped
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Arms inspectors have been unable to interview Iraqi scientists in private without having the sessions tape recorded, despite recent promises of more cooperation from Iraq, U.N. officials said Wednesday. Chief U.N. weapons inspectors last week told the U.N. Security Council the failure to obtain such interviews limits their ability to determine whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. U.S. officials say Baghdad is forcing the scientists to record the interviews and give the tapes to government officials. Washington claims it is one of many intimidation tactics Iraq uses to prevent scientists from speaking the truth. Iraqi officials say they have encouraged the scientists to do the interviews, but that the scientists insist on having a government official present or using a tape recorder. One scientist said Tuesday he recorded his interview for his own benefit to ensure he was not quoted out of context. Iraq also insists that inspectors have complete access to all Iraqi sites, and they deny U.S. allegations that they hide evidence before the inspectors arrive. Inspection teams visited at least nine sites Wednesday, including a missile production facility visited earlier and a site where inspectors are working to destroy artillery shells found during the 1990s inspection program. Inspectors focusing on missiles went to at least four sites Wednesday, according to an Iraqi Information Ministry statement. Among those listed was the al Samoud site in Abu Ghreib, west of Baghdad, which has taken part in the production of al Samoud missiles. Inspectors have determined those missiles violate the 150 km (93 mile) range limit established by the United Nations. Iraqi officials indicated Tuesday they may cooperate with inspectors in destroying those missiles. Inspectors also went to the al-Mamoun factory, the statement said. Inspectors have made repeated visits to the site to tag solid fuel rockets. They also visited al-Fidaa, a military site, and the Ibn al-Haithem facility, which makes air conditioners and generators, Iraq said. A team focusing on chemical weapons went to al-Muthanna, a research and production facility believed to have been Iraq's chemical weapons center during the 1980s. In recent days, inspectors have gone to al-Muthanna to work on destroying artillery shells filled with potentially deadly mustard gas that had been found during the 1990s inspections. At the time, inspection teams were unable to destroy the shells and left them there when inspections ended. When inspections resumed three months ago, inspectors found the shells and secured them. They said they had expected to find the shells, and that the shells were not a sign of an ongoing chemical weapons program. Another chemical team Wednesday visited a vegetable oil company in Baghdad, the Iraqi statement said. Inspection teams focusing on nuclear activities visited three sites, the statement said: al-Nahrawan, east of Baghdad; the al-Fidaa military compound; and the al-Zawra state establishment in Baghdad. Iraq insists it has no weapons of mass destruction. -- CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson contributed to this report.
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