Iraqi use of chemical weapons 'on many occasions' asserted by specialists.

Iraqi use of chemical weapons "on many occasions' asserted by specialists

A mission of medical specialists who investigated allegations of chemical weapons use in the Iran-Iraq conflict has unanimously concluded that Iraqi forces used chemical weapons against Iranian forces "on many occasions'. The agent used was mainly mustard gas, although on some occasions nerve gas was also employed, they said.

The mission expressed concern that the use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces was still continuing "in spite of appeals by the United Nations and on a more intense scale than used previously'.

The mission, which visited Iran from 26 February to 3 March, examined various sites, weapons components and numerous casualties. The results of two earlier missions--in 1984 and 1985--were used to support that investigation.

Chemical weapons had been used by Iraqi forces against Iranian forces during the February 1986 Iranian offensive into Iraqi territory, the specialists asserted.

Security Council members on 21 March (S/17932) strongly condemned Iraq's continued use of chemical weapons against Iran, and demanded the strict observance of the provisions of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The Protocol calls for "the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare'. Both Iran and Iraq are parties to it.

Council members also said they condemned the prolongation of the conflict which continued to take a heavy toll of human lives and to cause considerable material damage as well as to endanger peace and security in the region. They expressed concern over the risk of an extension of the conflict to other States in the region and called upon the two sides to respect the territorial integrity of all States, including those that were not parties to the hostilities.

They reaffirmed Council resolution 582 (1986), noting that Iraq had expressed its willingness to heed the call for the immediate cessation of hostilities. They stressed the urgent need for full compliance by both parties with that resolution, which would open the way for a prompt, comprehensive, just and honourable settlement of the conflict.

Council members noted that both parties had declared themselves ready to co-operate with the Secretary-General in his ongoing efforts to restore peace to the peoples of Iran and Iraq, and expressed their support for those efforts.

Said Rajaie-Khorassani, Permanent Representative of Iran, on 24 March...