Al-Qaida ‘has Iraqi chemical weapon’

THE US government has received a credible report that Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida took possession of a chemical weapon in Iraq last month or late in October, it was reported yesterday.

Senior officials told the Washington Post newspaper they suspect the transaction involved the nerve agent VX. If true, the transaction marks two significant developments.

It would be the first known purchase of a non-conventional weapon other than cyanide by al-Qaida or a member of its terrorist network. It would also be the most concrete evidence to support White House claims that Osama bin Laden’s network has received material assistance from Iraq.

If advanced publicly by the US administration, the report could be used to refute Iraq’s assertion that it has destroyed all its chemical weapons.

On the central question of whether the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, knew about or authorised such a transaction, US analysts are said to have no evidence.

The officials told the Post that information about the transfer came from a sensitive and credible source whom they declined to discuss.

They said the intended target was thought to be Europe or the US.

“We are concerned because of al-Qaida’s interest in obtaining and using weapons of mass destruction, including chemical, and we continue to seek evidence and intelligence information with regards to their planning activity,” said Gordon Johndroe, spokesperson for Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. Mr Johndroe was the only official authorised by the White House to discuss the matter on the record.

A senior Iraqi general dismissed the claim that it had given nerve gas to al-Qaida as “ridiculous”.

“This is really a ridiculous assumption from the American administration,” said Lieutenant General Hossam Mohammed Amin in Baghdad.

“They know very well we have no prohibited substances.”