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Iraqi Government Gives U.N. List of Weapons Scientists

Aired December 29, 2002 - 08:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Now, to Iraq and the hunt for weapons of mass destruction there. The Iraqi government has given inspectors a list of more than 500 scientists who have worked in the weapons programs. Our Rym Brahimi is following the story and joins us from Baghdad with the details -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Renay. Well, the interview of Iraqi scientists saga continues here in Baghdad. As you know, the U.N. weapons inspectors have so far interviewed only two scientists. The list of more than 500 other Iraqi scientists and people involved in any weapons programs was only handed over yesterday, from what we understand.

But meanwhile, the second Iraqi scientist was interviewed by the weapons inspectors, has come out and spoken. If you can see the headline, here, in the newspaper Renay, saying that the U.N. spokesman -- Hiro Ueki, he's mentioned here by his first name -- was exaggerating when he told reporters that the information provided by the Iraqi scientists to the weapons experts was linked to a military program that had attracted attention because it could have something to do with a possible clandestine nuclear program.

Now, he came out and spoke to reporters, protesting that characterization. And we had another press conference by the spokesman of the United Nations weapons inspectors, who said he wanted to clarify what he said, saying the U.N. wasn't saying at all there was a clandestine nuclear program, only trying to establish whether there had been any nuclear activity since '98.

Meanwhile, Renay, a lot going on here in the Iraqi capitol, inspectors were out again today. They went to at least three different sites, according to Iraqi officials, one of them the customs department. So obviously, they're going to be looking for records of what's been coming in the country in recent years.

Another issue here, well, there was a very strange noise a couple of hours ago, Renay. A lot of eyewitnesses I spoke to thought this was a noise of a plane breaking the sound barrier. Now, we notice planes here in Baghdad, Renay, because there aren't many that fly over the Iraqi capital. We'll have to wait and find out what that was all about. Clearly, not everybody agrees there was a plane, what kind of plane, we don't know what that was.

Finally, Renay, the Iraqi president has been meeting with his top-level advisers from the ruling Ba'ath Party to discuss regional and international affairs -- Renay. SAN MIGUEL: Rym, 30 days now for the inspectors to do their work there in Iraq. When can we expect things to come to a conclusion with the U.N. inspection teams there?

BRAHIMI: There are two things with regard to that, Renay. One of them is January 9th, the U.N. weapons inspectors are supposed to now give their final assessment of the declaration on its weapons programs that Iraq submitted to the United Nations earlier this month. That's because they hadn't finished their assessment by the time that the U.N. chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, reported to the council a few days ago. They're going to finish that assessment and then talk about that declaration.

Meanwhile, of course, they've been checking that declaration. What they've found in it against what they've been finding on the ground. Then the assessment of their work on the ground that's going to come on the 27th of January, so we're going to have to see if there's any conclusions by that time -- Renay.

SAN MIGUEL: Rym Brahimi, reporting live from Baghdad, thank you very much for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 29, 2002 - 08:10   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Now, to Iraq and the hunt for weapons of mass destruction there. The Iraqi government has given inspectors a list of more than 500 scientists who have worked in the weapons programs. Our Rym Brahimi is following the story and joins us from Baghdad with the details -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Renay. Well, the interview of Iraqi scientists saga continues here in Baghdad. As you know, the U.N. weapons inspectors have so far interviewed only two scientists. The list of more than 500 other Iraqi scientists and people involved in any weapons programs was only handed over yesterday, from what we understand.

But meanwhile, the second Iraqi scientist was interviewed by the weapons inspectors, has come out and spoken. If you can see the headline, here, in the newspaper Renay, saying that the U.N. spokesman -- Hiro Ueki, he's mentioned here by his first name -- was exaggerating when he told reporters that the information provided by the Iraqi scientists to the weapons experts was linked to a military program that had attracted attention because it could have something to do with a possible clandestine nuclear program.

Now, he came out and spoke to reporters, protesting that characterization. And we had another press conference by the spokesman of the United Nations weapons inspectors, who said he wanted to clarify what he said, saying the U.N. wasn't saying at all there was a clandestine nuclear program, only trying to establish whether there had been any nuclear activity since '98.

Meanwhile, Renay, a lot going on here in the Iraqi capitol, inspectors were out again today. They went to at least three different sites, according to Iraqi officials, one of them the customs department. So obviously, they're going to be looking for records of what's been coming in the country in recent years.

Another issue here, well, there was a very strange noise a couple of hours ago, Renay. A lot of eyewitnesses I spoke to thought this was a noise of a plane breaking the sound barrier. Now, we notice planes here in Baghdad, Renay, because there aren't many that fly over the Iraqi capital. We'll have to wait and find out what that was all about. Clearly, not everybody agrees there was a plane, what kind of plane, we don't know what that was.

Finally, Renay, the Iraqi president has been meeting with his top-level advisers from the ruling Ba'ath Party to discuss regional and international affairs -- Renay. SAN MIGUEL: Rym, 30 days now for the inspectors to do their work there in Iraq. When can we expect things to come to a conclusion with the U.N. inspection teams there?

BRAHIMI: There are two things with regard to that, Renay. One of them is January 9th, the U.N. weapons inspectors are supposed to now give their final assessment of the declaration on its weapons programs that Iraq submitted to the United Nations earlier this month. That's because they hadn't finished their assessment by the time that the U.N. chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, reported to the council a few days ago. They're going to finish that assessment and then talk about that declaration.

Meanwhile, of course, they've been checking that declaration. What they've found in it against what they've been finding on the ground. Then the assessment of their work on the ground that's going to come on the 27th of January, so we're going to have to see if there's any conclusions by that time -- Renay.

SAN MIGUEL: Rym Brahimi, reporting live from Baghdad, thank you very much for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com