Experts to study Iraqi missile programmes

International experts will today try to determine whether two Iraqi missile programmes violate UN resolutions.

The experts will spend two days studying Iraq’s Al Samoud Two and Al Fatah missiles, which in some tests exceeded the maximum 93-mile range allowed under Security Council resolutions.

Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has promised to give his assessment of the missile programmes to the council on Friday.

In his January 27 report, Blix had said “these missiles might very well represent prima facie cases of proscribed systems.”

“The test ranges in excess of 150 kilometres (93 miles) are significant, but some further technical considerations need to be made, before we reach a conclusion on this issue. In the meantime, we have asked Iraq to cease flight tests of both missiles,” he said.