Iraq focusing on Sudan in development of chemical, biological weapons

WASHINGTON — Iraq has exported technology and expertise in nonconventional weapons to its Arab allies.

U.S. officials said the beneficiaries include Libya and Sudan. But they said Sudan appears to be the location of a joint Iraqi-Sudanese effort to develop chemical and biological weapons.

The latest assertion of Iraq's activities came in the CIA report on proliferation released last week. The report said Iraq has been exporting weapons of mass destruction technology to Sudan, regarded as one of the poorest countries in the world.

The CIA assesses that Sudan has chemical weapons capability and is now seeking Iraqi help to develop biological weapons. The report does not say what the regime of President Saddam Hussein is obtaining in return.

"In the WMD [weapons of mass destruction] arena, Sudan has been developing the capability to produce chemical weapons for many years," the report said. "In this pursuit, it has obtained help from entities in other countries, principally Iraq. Given its history in developing chemical weapons and its close relationship with Iraq, Sudan may be interested in a BW [biological weapons] program as well."

U.S. officials said that in exchange for Baghdad's help, Sudan provides facilities for Iraqi development of weapons of mass destruction. The report said Sudan also seeks older conventional weapons for deployment against the rebels in the south.

The German BND intelligence agency has asserted that India is helping Iraq build chemical weapons. The agency's assertion was quoted by the German Der Spiegel news magazine.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration warned China that relations with the United States could deteriorate if it continues helping the Saddam regime. Deputy Defense Secretary-designate Paul Wolfowitz told a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that Beijing is contributing significantly to Iraq's military power.

"They're building something that threatens the safety of our air crews," Wolfowitz said. "We should do what we have to do to eliminate it. We should also make it very clear to the Chinese that this behavior will have a real cost in our relationship."