Fed: Weapons inspector says Baghdad still hiding weapons

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2000
Fed: Weapons inspector says Baghdad still hiding weapons

By Max Blenkin

CANBERRA, Aug 22 AAP - As the United Nations prepares to send weapons inspectors back
to Iraq, a veteran of 30 previous inspections warned there were still weapons to be found.

But Rod Barton said an end to the decade long standoff was in sight.

Dr Barton, a Canberra biochemist and pioneer member of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM)
under Australian diplomat Richard Butler, said international pressure to accept a solution

was set to rise.

He said one potentially crucial issue was escalating oil prices which could ease if
Iraq resumed full Iraqi production.

"There should be an end to this and I have put forward various plans about how we could
come to an end. The real problem is knowing when you are at the end," he told AAP.

"In that process we should be doing some sort of threat assessment. I believe we could
quantify that.

"If we had a presence in the country and were monitoring to make sure they don't add
to that weapons capability, maybe the world could live with that."

Dr Barton made 30 UNSCOM visits to Iraq and played a crucial role in uncovering Iraq's
biological warfare program. He participated in the first visit in May 1991 and the last
in December 1998.

Iraq has barred further visits of UN inspectors on grounds that they were spies working
for the United States.

The UN has now formed a new inspection organisation, the UN Monitoring, Verification
and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) headed by Hans Blix. The first team of 60 inspectors
has completed training.

However, Iraq has yet to say they can come, demanding an end to no-fly zones and sanctions
as pre-conditions for entry.

That has raised the prospect of a new confrontation akin to December 1998 which prompted
four nights of American and British air strikes.

Dr Barton said he believed there were still weapons to be found, possibly small quantities
of the nerve agent VX and biological agent anthrax.

"We have enough evidence to indicate that there is something left. Whether that is
weapons or just equipment to make the weapons, it is hard to say," he said.

"There will be pressure on Iraq to let the inspectors in. This time Iraq does not even
have its friends, the Russians and Chinese, completely on side.

"My guess is that we will be allowed into Iraq next year."

Dr Barton said US and British aircraft continued to patrol the no-fly zones over Iraq,
raising another potential problem.

"Sooner or later an aircraft is going to come down, just through engine failure or
something. It will happen," he said.

"To have an American pilot paraded through the streets of Baghdad is not something
that any administration wants. After the election my guess is that the Americans may take
a different direction."

"It may well be that Iraq will then accept the inspectors."

AAP mb/jg/cjh/de

KEYWORD: BARTON

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.