¡¡¡¡BAGHDAD, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- UN arms inspectors Monday visited the
Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Baghdad University, their
first visit to an Iraqi academic facility since resuming search for weapons of
mass destruction on Nov. 27.
¡¡¡¡A team of biological experts from the United Nations Monitoring,Verification
and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) completed full inspection
of the building with the assistance of the director of the institute and
chiefs of two departments, the experts' spokesman Hiro Ueki said in a
statement.
¡¡¡¡The institute, engaged in training, teaching and research activities in
biotechnology and genetic engineering, is a new site included in recent Iraqi
declarations.
¡¡¡¡The team then paid a return visit to the Al Amiryah Serum and Vaccine
Institute in Baghdad to seek clarifications from the formerdirector of the
institute.
¡¡¡¡The biological experts "took physical inventory of the instituteand took
some samples," said the statement.
¡¡¡¡Another two UNMOVIC teams of missile inspectors visited the SaadGeneral
Company and the Taji fiberglass plant respectively, both ofwhich were allegedly
involved in missile activities.
¡¡¡¡The Saad facility, located in central Baghdad and owned by IraqiMilitary Industrialization
Commission, is an engineering firm specializing in "engineering
design, construction and commissioning of projects," Ueki said.
¡¡¡¡The facility "hires a number of personnel from the former nuclear weapons
program organization, Petrochemical Complex-3 (PC-3)," the spokesman added.
¡¡¡¡Meanwhile, two teams from the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)
visited a total of seven sites, most of which were suspectedof engaging in
prohibited nuclear weapons projects.
¡¡¡¡On Monday, UN arms inspectors visited a total of 14 suspected sites in Iraq
searching for weapons of mass destruction.
¡¡¡¡Currently over 100 UN arms experts carried out their almost daily field
operations in Iraq. So far, no conflicts between the inspectors and their Iraqi
"minders" have been reported. The experts are expected to submit their first
report to the UN Security Council about Iraq's weapons programs on Jan. 27.
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