Experts Confirm New Iraq Missile Exceeds U.N. Limit
The panel of independent missile experts at the United Nations reached its conclusion on Iraq's Al Samoud 2 missiles after meetings Monday and Tuesday in New York. The panel, including one American, was convened by Mr. Blix to provide additional technical support in analyzing the missile.

Mr. Blix has already told the Council that the missiles, with a range of about 180 kilometers, or 114 miles, appeared to be a "prima facie" case of a violation by Iraq of the range limit of 150 kilometers, or about 90 miles, established by the Council. The missiles have already been given to the Iraqi armed forces, he said. The panel did not reach a conclusion about a second missile, Al Fatah, but said it required further study.

The conclusion about the missile violation seems certain to provoke new controversy. The inspectors learned of the range of the missiles from test results that were provided in the 12,000-page arms declaration Iraq delivered at the start of the inspections. The missile data was part of the relatively small amount of new useful information the inspectors found in the vast document.

Resolution 1441, the Council measure that set up the inspections, does not spell out what should be done if the inspectors find active illegal weapons. United States officials have argued that any prohibited weapons that emerge would be proof of Iraq's cheating, while French officials, among others, contend that the conclusion on the missiles is proof that the inspections are working and should be allowed to continue.

"An exceeding of the range was declared," said Yuri V. Fedotov, a Russian disarmament specialist who attended a meeting here today with Mr. Blix. It should be taken "precisely as an example of cooperation" by Iraq, he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/13/international/middleeast/13IRAQ.html?pagewanted=all&position=top