IRAQ/TURKEY: U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTORS PUSH AHEAD WITH VISITS TO IRAQI SITES / AROUND 2000 PEOPLE GATHER IN ISTANBUL FOR ANTI-U.S. AND ISRAELI PROTESTS

Record ID: 645868

  • Title: IRAQ/TURKEY: U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTORS PUSH AHEAD WITH VISITS TO IRAQI SITES / AROUND 2000 PEOPLE GATHER IN ISTANBUL FOR ANTI-U.S. AND ISRAELI PROTESTS
  • Date: 29th December 2002
  • Summary: (W4) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 29, 2002) (REUTERS) MV: UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) VEHICLES ENTERING PARK OF THE U.N. COMPOUND SCU: POLICEMAN GUARDING THE U.N. MV: GROUP OF INSPECTORS, ONE OF THE U.N. PERSONNEL WEARING A BLUE SUIT AND MASK ON HIS FACE VARIOUS OF INSPECTORS NEAR THEIR CARS LV: FIRE BRIGADE RUSHING TO THE U.N. SV: U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTORS LEAVING THE U.N. HEADQUARTERS TO START A NEW DAY OF INSPECTION (W4) NEAR BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 29, 2002) (REUTERS) LV: INSPECTORS ARRIVING AT SA'ID COMPANY HEADQUARTERS, PART OF THE MILITARY INDUSTRIALISATION COMPLEX SLV OF U.N. INSPECTORS ENTERING THE COMPANY LV: EXTERIOR OF THE COMPANY VARIOUS OF U.N. INSPECTORS AT THE COMPANY (3 SHOTS) (W4) AL-TAJIYAT, 15 KILOMETRES NORTH OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 29, 2002) (REUTERS ACCESS-ALL) MV: U.N. INSPECTORS ARRIVING AT AL-A'IZ COMPANY SV: GUARDS CLOSING COMPANY DOOR MV: SIGN READING: AL-A'IZ COMPANY FOR ELECTRONICS VARIOUS OF U.N. CARS AT THE SITE (6 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 13th January 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD AND AL-TAJIYAT, 15 KILOMETRES NORTH OF BAGHDAD; IRAQ / ISTANBUL; TURKEY
  • City:
  • Country: Turkey Iraq
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4DTN2Z3V3HBFZF4IXXHIA1LTR
  • Story Text: United Nations weapons inspectors have pushed ahead with their inspections, visiting at least three suspect sites a day after Baghdad supplied them with the names of more than 500 scientists associated with its banned weapons programmes.
    Around 2,000 people gathered in Istanbul against a war in Iraq where they chanted slogans against USA government and Israel.
    While United Nations (U.N.) weapons inspectors were preparing to start another day of work on Sunday (December 29), a small fire damaged a room on the ground floor of the U.N. inspectors headquarters on the outskirts of Baghdad, U.N. sources said.
    At least one Iraqi fire engine rushed to the building and put out the blaze, believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
    U.N. experts searched at least three suspect sites in Iraq on Sunday (December 29), a day after Baghdad supplied them with a list of more than 500 scientists associated with its banned weapons programmes.
    Iraqi officials said inspection teams visited an electronics company north of the capital and an engineering company in central Baghdad. A team also searched an administration office of the Iraqi customs service in Baghdad.
    The two companies are run by the Military Industrialisation Commission (MIC).
    The MIC runs scores of state companies charged with developing and producing many civilian and military goods - - from electronic chips to missiles.
    One of the companies - Al-A'iz Company - which produces electronic boards used in communications - is located at al-Tajiyat, 15 kilometres north of Baghdad.
    More than 100 inspectors are now in Iraq trying to uncover any evidence of weapons developed since their predecessors left before U.S.-British air raids in 1998.
    A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted last month gave Iraq a last chance to disarm before facing a possible U.S.-led attack. Iraq has publicly pledged to co-operate with the inspection teams.
    Inspectors said on Saturday (December 28) that Iraq provided them with a list of the names of more than 500 scientists linked with its chemical, biological, nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes.
    The list was demanded by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix on December 12.
    In Istanbul, more than 2,000 Turks burned U.S. and Israeli flags on Sunday during a demonstration against looming war in southeastern neighbour Iraq.
    The protest meeting, dominated by Islamist groups, passed off peacefully. People chanted slogans against war A Turkish protester said "United States is very far from here but we are here, we will be in trouble, the last time we seriously paid the cost and this time it will be worse, and we don't know what will happen, the world's balance will change."
    "We are here and present to prevent at least the oppression done by the United States. This our only aim." said Hayati (ha-ya-tea) Yurdas (your-dash), who also participated in the protest.
    North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member Turkey is widely expected to offer some support to its close ally the United States if it opts to attack Baghdad for allegedly developing weapons of mass destruction.
    The Justice and Development Party government, however, has yet to make a formal commitment and Turkish officials say the government is stressing widespread public opposition to a war in its negotiations with U.S. officials.
    Turkey fears a war could destabilise the region and derail its $16 billion IMF-backed economic recovery plan.
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