Not rocket science: Iraq plagued by high tech defections
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, June 15, 2001
LONDON Ñ Iraq has arrested at least two nuclear researchers and
enacted travel restrictions amid the defection of several leading
scientists.
The measures were instituted soon after several nuclear and rocket
scientists escaped Iraq over the past few months. One of them was Adel Ali
Rahma, who fled on a forged passport in April.
Most of the scientists are believed hiding in the West in such countries
as Britain, Germany and the United States. One leading rocket scientist is
believed to have escaped to Iran. They have provided information on Iraq's
nuclear and missile programs in the absence of United Nations inspections.
The London-based Al Hayat daily reported from Amman on Wednesday that
Iraqi authorities have increased supervision and restrictions to prevent
those working on military programs from traveling abroad. The restrictions focus
on scientists from the Iraqi Atomic Energy Agency.
The newspaper said the new measures were launched last week. The
measures prevent members from the atomic energy agency from traveling abroad
without a security escort.
Several Iraqi scientists were also believed to have been killed in their
escape attempt. The scientists, according to Iraqi opposition sources, were
found dead soon after they resigned from the atomic energy agency.
In another development, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported on
Thursday that hundreds of Russian-made tank transporters have arrived in
Iraq over the past few weeks. They said the transporters were seen being
unloaded in the port of Basra.
So far, the daily said, at least 200 Ural tank transporters have been
unloaded. Witnesses in Basra were quoted as saying that Iraq plans to
import 1,300 tank transporters from Russia.
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