Yemen Scuds Baghdad bound

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By URI DAN

December 27, 2002 -- JERUSALEM - Scud missiles seized two weeks ago in the Arabian Sea were destined for Iraq, not Yemen, it was reported yesterday.

The missiles were captured aboard a North Korean ship but were allowed to proceed by U.S. authorities, who said an investigation showed the cargo was being legally sent to Yemen.

However, Israeli analysts say Yemen has no need for Scuds, and the cargo's arrival there was only temporary.

A top Israeli defense official told The Post the ground-to-ground missiles, made infamous during the 1991 Gulf War, were meant for another undisclosed country.

The newspaper Haaretz went further and identified Iraq as the Scuds' ultimate destination.

U.S. authorities turned a blind eye to the shipment and released the cargo in order to ensure Yemen's support in the ongoing war against al Qaeda, the newspaper said yesterday.

The secret transfer of missiles and other weaponry through the Mideast has become a major concern of American and Israeli intelligence in recent weeks because of the likelihood of a U.S. war with Iraq.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said there were indications Baghdad was transferring biological and chemical weapons to Syria to hide them from United Nations weapons inspectors.

Israeli authorities also suspect that Iraq sent long-range rockets to Syria in recent weeks - in order to rearm Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.

Syria, which controls much of Lebanon, has allowed previous transfers of missiles and other arms to Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, the Arab League said yesterday it was Israel, not Syria or Iraq, that had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2002


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