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Nuke equipment removed by professionals in Iraq: diplomats
Nuclear equipment and materials in Iraq were dismantled and removed by professionals systematically, diplomats here said Thursday, indicating that this work has lasted at least one year since 2003. The diplomats pointed out that the removal of the nuclear equipment was well organized by professionals who should have suchlarge-sized machines as heavy lifting equipment and heavy-duty trucks. And the whole operation could not be completed within a short period. Their comments contradicted earlier statements of the United States and the Iraqi interim government, which insisted that the nuclear equipment had been looted shortly after the US-led invasion. Iraqi Science and Technology Minster Rashad Omar said Tuesday the nuclear facilities have been under well protection of the Iraqi interim government, and he also invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit the sites at any time. In a report submitted Monday to the UN Security Council, IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei said satellite images show equipment and materials that could be used to make nuclear weapons have vanished from Iraq. Entire buildings once monitored and tagged by the agency have been dismantled, and equipment and materials in open storage areashave been removed, ElBaradei said. Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-10-15 |
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