New York - American tests showing Iraq had put the deadly nerve gas VX into warheads before the 1991 Gulf war were substantiated by arms experts, according to a new United Nations report.
The report to the Security Council was submitted by 17 scientists from seven countries who analysed government laboratory findings from the United States, France and Switzerland on samples of Iraqi warhead fragments. Its conclusions signify that Baghdad probably had hidden information on its ability to put VX into warheads and now has to account for its past programme to UN inspectors. Iraq has admitted putting Sarin, a gas that causes spasms, nausea and possible death, into warheads but has denied it was able to use VX in weapons or load it aboard missile warheads before the 1991 Gulf War.