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Blix-Destroy your MissilesSat, February 22, 2003Source: Ananova NewsHans Blix has ordered Iraq to destroy dozens of its missiles with ranges that violate UN limitsHans Blix has ordered Iraq to destroy dozens of its missiles with ranges that violate UN limits, and given Baghdad a March 1 deadline to begin the demolition. The chief UN weapons inspector is demanding that Iraq eliminate the Al Samoud 2 missile system. The move will test Baghdad's willingness to disarm as negotiations for possible war enter a crucial stage. The US has strongly pushed for the destruction of the missiles and all their components. Mr Blix told Iraq to hand over to inspectors "for verifiable destruction" all components of the weapons system in a four-page letter to an adviser to President Saddam Hussein, Lieutenant General Amer al-Saadi. The letter said the destruction process must commence by March 1. Iraq admits that some Al Samouds can travel beyond the 93-mile limit set by the Security Council after the 1991 Gulf War, but only because they have been tested without warheads or guidance systems, making them lighter. By no coincidence, March 1 is also the date Mr Blix's next report on Iraqi compliance is due to the Security Council. Mr Blix also ordered that fuel, launchers, testing equipment and all software and documentation about the Al Samoud programme be destroyed - but not the factories where the missiles were built as the US wanted. Mr Blix handed the letter to Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Al-Douri at UN headquarters. There was no immediate response from Iraq to the letter. |
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