Tuesday, September 2, 2003  

U.S. CONCERNED OVER BW WEAPONS - Egypt, Iran, Libya and Syria.
WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has becoming increasingly concerned that so-called rogue states will be able to install biological warheads on a range of missiles.

U.S. officials said a range of Middle East countries are seeking to acquire
or develop technology to install biological weapons on Scud-class short- and medium-range missiles. They said these programs have been launched in such countries as Egypt, Iran, Libya and Syria.

North Korea, the officials said, has been a major supplier of technology and components for the BW programs of several Middle East countries. They said a biological warhead could solve problems inherent in extending the range of Scud-class missiles.

"I am especially worried about two things: biological weapons and missiles," Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance Paula DeSutter said. "Those are the two areas that stand out."

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Reproduced by permission of IMRA, Independent Media Review and Analysis, Israel.
 
http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=18142