- Title: IRAQ: BAGHDAD HAS CONTINUED TO DESTROY THE BANNED AL-SAMOUD 2 MISSILES
- Date: 9th March 2003
- Summary: (U3) AL-TAJI, IRAQ (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV INSPECTORS GETTING INTO AL-TAJI MISSILE SITE 0.16 2. SLV INSPECTORS' CONVOYS ENTERING THE SITE 0.23 (W5) AL-TAJI, IRAQ (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 3. SLV/CU MILITARY TRUCK NEAR ENTRANCE/PORTRAIT OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AT THE ENTRANCE (2 SHOTS) 0.26 4. SLV/SV OF MILITARY TRUCK CARRYING TWO AL-SAMOUD 2 MISSILES ENTERING THE SITE (4 SHOTS) 0.51 (U3) AL-AZIZIYA, IRAQ (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 5. SLV WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARRIVING AT AL-AZIZIYA WEAPONS DESTRUCTION SITE (2 SHOTS) 1.01 6. GV/LVVARIOUS OF INSPECTORS AT THE SITE (2 SHOTS) 1.09 7. SLV MILITARY TRUCK AND SOLDIERS 1.15 8. SV/CU OLD RUSTY EQUIPMENT ON GROUND (2 SHOTS) 1.24 (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 9. SV SPOKESMAN FOR UNMOVIC AND IAEA HIRO UEKI BEING INTERVIEWED 1.27 10. MCU (English) UEKI SAYING: "The destruction of al-Samoud 2 missiles and related components is proceeding today and yesterday. Until yesterday a total of 40 al-Samoud missiles were destroyed along with launcher, some engines, some hydraulic, tools and special equipment to produce al-Samoud 2 engines." 1.58 11. CU OF HANDS 2.01 12. MCU (English) UEKI SAYING: "The Iraqis have indicated that they would submit a more detailed report regarding the approaches to quantify the amount of the VX (Nerve Gas) and Anthrax they claim they have destroyed unilaterally in 1991. In about a week's time. We'll see whether they will submit such a report within the course of this week." 2.33 (W5) BAGHDAD, IRAQ, (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 13. SLV OF PEOPLE DIGGING TRENCHES AND PUTTING SAND BAGS ON THEM 2.35 (W5) BAGHDAD, IRAQ, (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 14. SV/MCU PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN PRESIDING OVER A MEETING WITH TOP OFFICIALS (6 SHOTS) 2.58 (W4) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 15. SV OF CLASSROOM WITH WITH SCHOOL GIRLS RECEIVING CIVIL DEFENCE TRAINING (5 SHOTS) 3.29 16. LAS GIRLS LEAVING SCHOOL BUILDING 3.36 17. SLV/CU OF GIRLS UNDERGOING TRAINING IN THE SCHOOL YARD, GIRLS LYING DOWN ON THE GROUND (3 SHOTS) 4.06 (W5) BAGHDAD, IRAQ, (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) 18. SLV/SV OF PEOPLE DIGGING TRENCHES AND PUTTING SAND BAGS ON THEM (6 SHOTS) 4.34 19. MCU IRAQI MAN SPEAKING (ARABIC SPEECH) 4.46 20. SLV MEN DIGGING TRENCHES AND PUTTING SAND BAGS 4.58 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 24th March 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, AL-TAJI, AL-AZIZIYA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA4SBAUYIJD2GIE7P57NEDK63X4
- Story Text: Baghdad has continued to destroy the banned Al-Samoud 2
missiles but with Washington dismissing this sign of
compliance as too little and too late to save it from war,
Iraq is gearing up for possible attack.
Iraq resumed the destruction of the banned Al Samoud 2
missiles on Sunday (March 9) at a military base in Al-Taji, 20
kilometres (13 miles) north of Baghdad.
The missiles are being destroyed under the supervision of
UN weapons inspectors.
UN inspectors' spokesman Hiro Ueki said the scraping of
the missiles has continued steadily since the process started
a week ago.
"Until yesterday a total of 40 al-Samoud 2 missiles were
destroyed along with launcher, some engines, some hydraulic,
tools and special equipment to produce Al-Samoud 2 engines,"
Ueki said.
Last month chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans
Blix demanded that Iraq destroys all its Al-Samoud 2 missiles
which United Nations experts say exceed the allowed range of
150 kilometres (93 miles) allowed by UN resolutions.
Ueki said the inspectors were expecting a report on
biological weapons to be issued by Iraqi authorities.
"The Iraqis have indicated that they would submit a more
detailed report regarding the approaches to quantify the
amount of the VX (Nerve Gas) and Anthrax they claim they have
destroyed unilaterally in 1991. In about a week's time. We'll
see whether they will submit such a report within the course
of this week, " Ueki said.
Meanwhile Iraq maintained its defiant rhetoric. President
Saddam Hussein and top officials issued a statement demanding
the Council denounce the United States and Britain as "liars"
and lift sanctions on Iraq.
The destruction of Al-Samoud 2 missiles has been
interpreted by many as the most tangible sign of Iraqi
cooperation with the inspectors but U.S. president George W.
Bush dismissed the move as a charade that would not save Iraq
from war.
Faced with a possible attack within weeks, the Iraqis
continued their preparations. School pupils joined the rest of
the nation in training how to face up to emergencies if war
erupts.
Pupils at a girls' secondary school in Baghdad took part
in a civil defence exercise on Sunday (March 9).
"It is ordinary how to teach our pupils how to save
themselves if war breaks out. We thought them the first aid,
how to treat injured people if war will break out, " one of
the teachers supervising the training said.
In the streets of Baghdad teams of men were seen digging
trenches and using sand bags for reinforcement.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic battle dividing the West
intensified as each side tried to woo wavering Security
Council members before a U.N. vote on war in Iraq.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States had
a "strong chance" of getting nine or 10 states in the
15-member Council to vote for a U.S.-backed draft resolution
setting a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm.
A defeat of the resolution alone would be unlikely to
avert war. Washington has repeatedly said it will lead a
"coalition of the willing" against Iraq without U.N. approval
if necessary, and more than 200,000 U.S. and British troops
have massed in the region, ready to strike.
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