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Inspecting Iraq

Ritter leaves Baghdad after weapons inspections

Ritter

March 10, 1998
Web posted at: 11:25 a.m. EST (1625 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter -- the man Iraqi authorities once alleged was a U.S. spy -- left Baghdad Tuesday after carrying out inspections of so-called sensitive sites "without any problem."

U.N. officials in New York said Ritter left around noon, Baghdad time, for Bahrain.

"Scott Ritter has informed the Iraqi side that he has completed his mission without any problem and he has thanked the Iraqi side for the cooperation extended to his team," the Iraqi news agency (INA) said, quoting the head of the Iraqi National Monitoring Directorate, Hussam Mohammed Amin.

"They inspected a total of eight sensitive sites to the full satisfaction of the inspection team," a U.N. spokesman said.

So-called sensitive sites have been in the past the scene for standoffs between Iraq and the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM), charged with scrapping Iraq's biological, chemical and ballistic weapons programs.

Sites which Iraq labels "sensitive" include military and intelligence installations, where UNSCOM inspectors believe Iraq may still be concealing material related to banned weapons.

In January, Ritter was prevented from entering some suspected weapons sites after Iraq alleged he was a U.S. spy and said his U.N. team included a disproportionately high number of Americans.

Annan and Aziz signing the weapons inspection deal last month

The refusal to open up the sites to inspectors led to a buildup of U.S. and British military forces in the Gulf and threats of air strikes.

Ritter's return to Iraq earlier this month was made possible by top-level intervention by the United Nations.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan struck a deal with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz February 23, defusing a standoff with Iraq over inspections of the eight so-called presidential sites and averting a U.S.-led use of force against Iraq.

Ritter's mission is the first test of Iraq's pledge to give the inspectors unrestricted access under the accord.

But UNSCOM has said Ritter would not inspect any of the presidential sites. Joint teams of inspectors and diplomats have yet to be announced for this.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Interactive Features ---------- Primer: Bioweapons Who's who Inside UNSCOM Gulf War recap Military databanks Interactive Maps ---------- UNSCOM search sites Iraq's arsenal Key Iraq locations Allied forces

CNN/Time Impact:

• Inside UNSCOM: The Inspectors' Story

Newsmaker profiles:

• Kofi Annan - U.N. Secretary General
• Saddam Hussein - Iraqi President

Related stories:

• Iraqi inspections proceed in 'normal' manner - March 7, 1998
• Ritter back at work in Baghdad - March 6, 1998
• Ritter-led inspectors return to Iraq - March 5, 1998
• Sources: No Brits, Americans to be on diplomatic team in Iraq - March 4, 1998

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