THERE IS MOUNTING evidence that Iraq has systematically misled UN inspectors over how many weapons of mass destruction the country retained in the wake of the Gulf War, including derivatives of the SS-1 Scud short-range ballistic missile.
The allegations that Iraq is misleading the UN come from two high-ranking Iraqi defectors, both of whom have been granted asylum in Jordan.
They have already briefed US intelligence officials on their country's efforts to acquire long-range nuclear and chemical-strike capabilities.
Gen. Hussein Kamel Hassan, the Iraqi military-industries minister, and his brother Lt. Col. Saddam Kamel Hassan arrived in Jordan on 8 August and were granted asylum, by King Hussein.
The two senior Iraqi officials were involved in all the Iraqi classified programmes aimed at acquiring long-range ballistic-missile capability as well as in the efforts to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapon systems.
Recent estimates say that the Iraqis are hiding five to 13 mobile Scud launchers and an unknown number of missiles, probably in underground storage sites.
Source: Flight International
