Al-Jazeerah, News     

 

الجزيرة

News Archives 

Arab Cartoonists

Columnists

Documents

Editorials 

Opinion Editorials

letters to the editor

Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine

Islam

Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people 

Media Watch

Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah

News Photos

Poetry

Book reviews

Public Announcements 

   Public Activities 

Women in News

Cities, localities, and tourist attractions

 

   

-

Iraq started destroying missiles on Saturday
(AFP), Khaleej Times, Abu Dhabi TV

-

 

Abu Dhabi TV reported that Iraq has already destroyed four of the Al-Sumoud missiles as a start to destroy all of them. This came in compliance with a demand from the UN inspectors. So far, Iraq has not left any excuse for the US and the UK to claim that it is in violation of the UN resolution 1441. 

Iraq to destroy four Al Samoud missiles on Saturday
(REUTERS), Khaleej Times

1 March 2003


BAGHDAD - UN inspectors and Iraqi experts destroy four Al Samoud missiles on Saturday after agreeing a timetable for the elimination of the banned rocket, an Iraqi official said. “An agreement was reached by which the destruction process would commence in the Taji area (north of Baghdad) with the destruction of four Al Samoud missiles,” Information Ministry official Uday Al Taei told reporters after 90 minutes of talks between senior weapons inspectors and Iraqi experts. Hiro Ueki, spokesman for the inspectors, confirmed the talks were successful and said the destruction process would commence in the afternoon.

Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix had given Baghdad until March 1 to begin scrapping dozens of missiles and most of their components after it was found to exceed the allowed range of 150 km set by the United Nations.

 Taei said a major component of the missile -- the mould for the solid fuel component -- would be destroyed on Sunday. He said “a timetable and action plan” had also been agreed for the coming days

BAGHDAD - Iraq could start destroying its banned Al Samoud 2 missiles on Saturday, an Iraqi source told AFP here on Friday after Baghdad’s reluctant agreement to scrap the systems. The informed source said Baghdad had accepted the UN demand despite the fact it was “arbitrary and does not take into account scientific and technical facts concerning these missiles.

It seems that the timing (of the destruction) has political objectives,” said the source, refering to the mounting US threats for launching war against the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

The actual destruction “could start tomorrow (Saturday),” said the source.

Iraq had written to chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix on Thursday agreeing in principle to destroy its banned Al Samoud 2 missiles. Blix’s office said it received a letter after the council ended more than three hours of inconclusive talks on a draft resolution from the United States and Britain seeking authority to disarm Iraq by force.


http://www.aljazeerah.info

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.