UN inspectors searched for WMD in Iraq prior to the invasion (file photo)
7 October 2004 -- The head of a team of U.S. weapons inspectors has said that he doesn't expect to find significant amounts of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
The report presented by Charles Duelfer to the Senate Armed Services Committee shows that Iraq had no stockpiles of chemical, biological, or nuclear stockpiles in the run-up to last year's war.
"We cannot yet definitively say whether or not WMD [weapons of mass destruction] materials were transferred out of Iraq before the war. Neither can we definitively answer some questions about possible retained stocks. Though, as I say, it's my judgement that retained stocks do not exist," Duelfer said.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush justified the invasion of Iraq by claiming that Baghdad had such weapons.
Duelfer said that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were largely destroyed in 1991 but that Saddam Hussein had plans to reactivate his weapons programs after sanctions were lifted.
(compiled from wire reports)
"We cannot yet definitively say whether or not WMD [weapons of mass destruction] materials were transferred out of Iraq before the war. Neither can we definitively answer some questions about possible retained stocks. Though, as I say, it's my judgement that retained stocks do not exist," Duelfer said.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush justified the invasion of Iraq by claiming that Baghdad had such weapons.
Duelfer said that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were largely destroyed in 1991 but that Saddam Hussein had plans to reactivate his weapons programs after sanctions were lifted.
(compiled from wire reports)