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Journalists Tour Iraqi Nuclear Site
The Iraqi staff of the Tuwaitha nuclear complex provided a tour of the site to journalists yesterday in an attempt to address International Atomic Energy Agency concerns that high-precision nuclear equipment had been looted from Iraqi sites, according to the Financial Times (see GSN, Oct. 13). During the tour, journalists were taken to a building known as Location C where more than 500 tons of yellowcake uranium is stored under IAEA seal, according to the Times. Journalists also saw a hole in a barbed wire fence near the building used as a shortcut by nearby villagers, the Times reported. Tuwaitha personnel said they believe the United States removed most of the facility’s materials while it was under U.S. control from about April 2003 to July 2004, according to the Times. An Iraqi physicist said that he believed most of the missing equipment had been destroyed. “It is true what ElBaradei says, but he is exaggerating,” the physicist said, referring to IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei. Residents of a neighboring village Wardiya said they only took plastic barrels containing radioactive materials during looting last year. They dumped the uranium out — not knowing what it was — and used the barrels to hold drinking and bathing water. “We only took the barrels. How would I know what any of this other equipment is used for? How would I know who to sell it to,” said village resident Abed Ali al-Zubeidi. Villagers since the looting suffered rashes and other health problems. The United Nations inspected the village for contaminated material and treated illnesses, while U.S. troops bought the containers at $3 a piece, according to the Times (Charles Clover, Financial Times, Oct. 14).
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