IRAQ: A TEAM OF INSPECTORS FROM IAEA WILL VISIT THE TUWAITHA NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTRE TO DETERMINE WHETHER REFINED URANIUM ORE IS MISSING

Record ID: 590780

  • Title: IRAQ: A TEAM OF INSPECTORS FROM IAEA WILL VISIT THE TUWAITHA NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTRE TO DETERMINE WHETHER REFINED URANIUM ORE IS MISSING
  • Date: 6th June 2003
  • Summary: (U4) TUWAITHA, NEAR BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 6, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN/SLV/LV OF IRAQ NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY COMPOUND WHERE LOOTERS STOLE BARRELS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE (4 SHOTS) 0.26 2. SLV PULL OUT LV WOMAN WORKING NEAR THE FACILITY 0.38 3. SLV OF U.S. SOLDIERS GUARDING THE GATE OF THE NUCLEAR FACILITY (2 SHOTS) 0.47 4. CU OF A MAN AFFECTED BY THE NUCLEAR RADIATION (3 SHOTS) 1.06 5. LV/SLV OF BARRELS OUTSIDE THE FACILITY (3 SHOTS) 1.22 6. CU SIGN READING 'RADIOACTIVE' 1.27 7. SLV BARREL 1.32 8. CU SIGN ON THE BARREL READING 'AL JESIRA SLUDGE' 1.37 9. PAN OF EXTERIOR OF THE NUCLEAR FACILITY 1.48 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TUWAITHA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA9585RC260IR9X79MI16TDU4S6
  • Story Text: Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency
    (IAEA) are expected to visit the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research
    Centre during their upcoming visit to Baghdad to determine
    whether refined uranium ore is missing from a looted nuclear
    complex in Iraq.



    A team of inspectors from the International Atomic
    Energy Agency (IAEA), who are expected in Baghdad on Friday
    (June 6) will visit the Tuwaitha Nuclear Energy Agency
    Compound to determine whether refined uranium ore is missing
    from the looted site.

    U.S. defence officials have said they are unable to
    determine
    whether the uranium is missing and hope the IAEA team can tell
    if there are gaps in inventory.

    The looting of the Tuwaitha nuclear complex near Baghdad
    has raised concerns because of the possible exposure of
    villagers to radiological materials. Another worry is that
    terrorists might use yellow cake or other materials stolen
    from the site in radiological weapons, or so-called dirty
    bombs.

    Local residents had looted barrels filled with radioactive
    waste to use for storing food and water.

    A U.S. task force has recovered some looted barrels once
    used to store processed uranium at the Iraqi Nuclear Energy
    Agency, but does not know how many more are missing.

    After the Saddam Hussein's overthrow on April 9, looters
    made off with barrels likely to have been contaminated with
    traces of the yellow cake uranium they had held at the Iraqi
    Nuclear Agency's sprawling compound south of Baghdad.

    Iraqis living in the nearby Madaen district bought them
    for household use for about $2 U.S. dollars each. They said
    U.S. forces had bought them back for $3 U.S. dollars a few
    days ago. A research centre possibly containing radioactive
    isotopes was also looted.

    IAEA inspectors can compare what is now at the plant with
    what the international inspectors found the last time the
    facility was inspected in December 2002, the officials said.

    The inspection, which is supposed to begin on Sunday (June 8),
    is expected to take a couple of weeks.

    The defence officials emphasized that it was being held
    under the provisions of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,
    which Iraqi signed in 1972, and that it set no precedent for
    other arms inspections under the UN Security Council
    resolutions imposed after the Gulf War. U.S. forces have come
    under fire for failing to secure the complex against looting
    after the war.




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