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To: John Sladek who wrote (1800)	1/11/2004 8:55:12 AM
From: John Sladek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2171

11Jan04-Nicholas Christian-Troops find 'chemical weapons' in Iraq NICHOLAS CHRISTIAN DOZENS of mortar rounds containing chemical weapons have been found buried under a road in southern Iraq, it was revealed last night. Tests of a suspicious liquid that was leaking from the shells found that it was a form of blister gas, which include mustard gas. Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was supposed to have destroyed all chemical weapons, but it is thought that the munitions had been buried for at least 10 years and might date back to the Iran-Iraq war, which ended in 1998. Danish soldiers discovered the cache of 36 120mm mortar rounds buried 45 miles south of the town of Amarah, not far from Basra, on Friday. Amarah was the scene of a violent riot yesterday in which British troops and Iraqi police shot dead at least five people. The Ministry of Defence said the soldiers had opened fire in self-defence after coming under attack from a crowd of several hundred people armed with grenades, guns and stones. News of the chemical weapons find came after British and Icelandic scientists carried out tests on a liquid that was leaking from the mortar shells. Initial results suggest the substance is a form of blister gas. The Danish Army Operational Command said last night: "All the instruments [used in testing] showed indications of the same type of chemical compound, namely blister gas." It is thought likely to take about two days for confirmation of what the liquid contains. Four different types of instrument were used on three of the mortar rounds, the army said in its statement, adding that 100 more rounds could be buried at the site. Icelandic bomb specialists working with the Danish soldiers said the rounds had been found concealed in road construction, Iceland’s Foreign Ministry reported. It said a mobile US chemical research laboratory had been sent to help. In Baghdad, the US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told a news conference: "Most were wrapped in plastic bags, and some were leaking." He added that it was likely the weapons were left over from the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. Blister gas, an illegal weapon, was extensively used against the Iranians during the conflict. Mustard gas, one of the best known of the blister agents, can remain toxic in the soil for decades. Although it can kill if it enters the lungs, blister gas is used mainly to weaken infantry by making the skin break out in excruciatingly painful blisters. The US administration had cited the threat of illicit weapons of mass destruction as a principle reason for launching war on Iraq in March last year. But no such weapons were found. The United States earlier this month pulled out from Iraq a 400-member military team specialising in the disposal of weapons of mass destruction, in what the New York Times said was "a sign that administration might have lowered its sights" and viewed it as less likely that such weapons would be found. But the White House played down the move, saying the group focused on hunting weapons was remaining in Iraq. Meanwhile, yesterday’s violence in Amarah marked the end of a long period during which British troops have managed to keep control without resorting to lethal force. The crowd had initially seemed peaceful when it gathered to protest about a lack of jobs in the town. But the protesters grew agitated and began throwing stones at the provincial government’s headquarters. Almost all of the windows were reported to have been smashed. A British army spokesman said Iraqi police, believing they were under attack, opened fire into the crowd but did not hit any of the protesters. However, witnesses claimed the police had killed some of the protesters. British troops in armoured vehicles were then sent to provide support for the civilian police officers. The Ministry of Defence said in a statement: "A number of hand-held devices - believed to be three hand grenades - were thrown by members of the crowd at two British Army vehicles. "The soldiers identified one Iraqi male who was in the process of throwing a grenade and they returned fire. It is believed this individual was killed." Some three hours later, two more explosive devices were thrown at a British army vehicle, the statement said, and again troops fired at a man. "This individual was removed by the crowd, believed wounded," the MoD added. Three more devices were thrown at soldiers before calm returned, the statement said, adding that there were no British casualties. "It is our understanding that there have been six casualties - five fatalities and one injured. We believe that Coalition forces killed one and injured one, both in self-defence," the Ministry of Defence concluded. Dr Saad Hamoud, of the Al-Zahrawi Surgical Hospital, said six people were killed and at least 11 wounded. There were no casualties among police or soldiers. Meanwhile, Iraqi officials expressed fears yesterday that a US Pentagon decision to confer prisoner of war status on Saddam Hussein would prevent them from putting the ousted leader on trial. The Geneva agreements say PoWs can be tried for crimes against humanity only by an international tribunal or the occupying power, which in Iraq is the United States. "I am surprised by this decision," said Dara Nor al-Din, a former appeals court judge and member of Iraq’s US-backed Governing Council. "We still consider Saddam a criminal and he will be tried on this basis. This new move will be discussed thoroughly in the Governing Council." US officials in Baghdad sought to reassure Iraqis that no deal was made to keep them from trying the former dictator. news.scotsman.com