Brits find Scuds with chemical, biological warheads tagged for Libya

LONDON -- British authorities have found a shipment of Scud ballistic missiles with chemical and biological warheads bound for Libya.

Officials said a crate of missile components were found at Gatwick Airport, south of London, and were bound for Tripoli. The components were said to have included jet propulsion system for Scuds with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers [600 miles].

"A seizure of Scud missile parts was made on Nov. 24 at Gatwick airport from a flight bound for Tripoli via Malta," a Customs spokesman said. "Our investigations into this seizure are continuing and no further details are being released at the moment."

The Sunday Times newspaper said 32 crates of missile parts were discovered Nov. 24. The newspaper said the shipment originated in Taiwan and that other crates had already reached Libya.

British sources on Sunday they were concerned that other shipments might have reached Iran. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi was scheduled to hold talks in London for the first time since the 1979 revolution. Earlier, thousands of supporters of the ruling Islamic clergy in Teheran called for the expulsion of British ambassador and cancel his visit.

The European Union has outlawed the export of missile technology to Libya. In July, Britain restored diplomatic ties with Libya. After a 15-year break, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook lifted trade sanctions and renewed air links after assurances from Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi that he would no longer pruse terrorism and aggression.