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Iraq reveals important arms data: Ekeus

BAGHDAD: Iraq has handed over to the United Nations important data on its germ warfare and missile programmes, the U.N. envoy charged with disarming Iraq said on Sunday.

"Iraq has given very important, significant new information with regard mostly to its biological weapons programme and also some important information on its missiles programme," Rolf Ekeus told Reuters.

Ekeus said Iraq had addressed most of the outstanding issues in the biological sphere but said further information was needed. "It is not concluded yet," he said.

Ekeus said Iraq also gave what he described as "important clarifying information" on its past nuclear programme which experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will take back to Vienna for analysis.

The Swedish diplomat, head of the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) disarming Iraq under the 1991 Gulf War ceasefire, arrived in Baghdad on Thursday to collect new arms data that Iraq said defecting Lieutenant-General Hussein Kamel Hassan had concealed from his inspectors.

Ekeus said although his experts had "a very good handle" on Iraq's ballistic missile programme he hoped the latest information would clarify some questions. He did not elaborate.-Reuter