Kuwait minister denies newspaper report of smuggled Iraqi (Weapons)-Newspaper Stands By It's Report

AP | 10/05/03

[kattracks]

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 05, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Kuwait's Interior Ministry has denied a newspaper report that security officials foiled an attempt to smuggle US$60 million worth of chemical weapons and biological warheads from Iraq to a European country. Maj. Adel al-Hashash, deputy manager of public relations at the Interior Ministry, told The Associated Press Sunday that the ministry has repeatedly denied the report.

The pro-government Al-Siyassah, quoting an unnamed security source, published the story Wednesday.

Al-Hashash said Information Minister Sheik Nawwaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah denied the newspaper report in comments to reporters Wednesday night, although he did not mention the weapons.

"We have some artifacts and that was written about in the papers," Al Sabah said in comments carried by local newspapers Thursday. "We will make sure all of it is correct. There are experts and officials who will examine these artifacts. There are matters that we must look into."

"That is our denial," Al-Hashash said Sunday.

Shawkat al-Hakem, Al-Siyassah managing editor, told the AP on Saturday that the minister's comments did not negate his paper's report. He said the paper stood by its story.

[Humidston]

Bump for later.

[Swanks]

John Loftus two days ago broke this and the fact the the Gov't of Kuwait was furiously back peddling and trying to kill this story.

BTW the unnamed European country Loftus noted was France. (Why not hide all traces of WMD's with Saddamm's best friends)

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[Bogey78O]

How does one price unconventional weapons?

[ellery]

bttt

[snooker]

"How does one price unconventional weapons?"

EBAY

[livius]

I wonder if the original English-language report was translated from a Romance language report that had been translated from Arabic.

"Artefacto" in Spanish, for example, means both "device" (frequently referring to a bomb or some "device" that detonates, is incendiary, etc.) and the English word "artifact."

[MizSterious]

This story has more twists and turns than Hwy 1 in CA.

[JDGreen123]

I suspect that the United States has confronted the country in question (France?) and has given them 2 choices:

1. Get on board with our program and plans and this news will disappear.

2. If you do not co-operate, we expose you for the criminal activity in which you have engaged.

It's your choice Jacques Chirac. You make the call.