Short Descriptor: Very large establishment; involved in BW research and weapons filling; primarily a CW site

Details:

The status of BW activities is unclear in the five to six years after the liquidation of the Al Hazen Institute in 1979. According to the testimony of Lt. Gen. Nizar Attar, Director of Muthana, BW was introduced into Muthana objectives in 1983. It appears that BW research began at Muthana in February 1985 when Dr. Rihab Taha transferred to the site from the University of Baghdad. Taha organized a BW research group of 10 people in the Toxics Evaluation Group at Muthana, although actual laboratory work probably began in late 1985. Iraq declares that the work done at Muthana from 1985-1987 was a basic program for Bacillus anthracis spores and botulinum toxin only, which was restricted to laboratory production, characterization, and storage. However, DIALOG searches for Clostridum perfringens were conducted in May and July 1985. Aerosol dissemination studies were undertaken in 1987, with small animals exposed. In the early days of the program based at Muthana (and Salman Pak), small quantities of media (tens of kilograms) were purchased through the State Enterprise for Pesticides Production (SEPP) for use in research and pilot production.

From May to July 1987, the biology group was transferred from Al-Muthana to Salman, although Munthana continued activities in the BW field, including collaboration with Salman in laboratory and field experiments. For example, in 1989, studies on ricin, along with augmenting aflatoxin with smut, CS, CN, (riot agents) and mustard were undertaken. Muthana also assisted in setting up the November 1990 field trial. Iraq denies any relationship between genetic engineering undertaken through Hakam with the genetic engineering section of Muthana housed at the Serum and Vaccine Institute at Amiriyah (under the direction of Dr. Al-Za'ag).

Muthana was also the site for the filling of R-400 bombs and Al-Hussein warheads with BW agents. The weapons were assembled at Hakam.

Other Information:

...Al Muthana State Establishment at Samarra was established in 1985 from a pesticide production plant that had been established by Iraqi intelligence in 1982. Al Muthana fell directly under control of the Military Industrial Corporation (MIC). The director was Brigadier Faiez (Shaheen), who was also director of Samarra Medicine Industries (source comment: The Samarra Medicine Industries may be involved in biological research...) [1]


Key Source:
[1] GulfLINK, "Overview of Iraqi Weapons Industry Establishments," File: 123096_17780146_91a_0001.txt.

	Updated February 2006