US takes possession of Libya nuclear equipment

WASHINGTON -- As part of an agreement to rid Libya of weapons of mass destruction, the United States took possession yesterday of 55,000 pounds of equipment and documents from the country's nuclear and missile programs, including centrifuge parts used to enrich uranium.

A transport plane containing the sensitive equipment from Tripoli arrived yesterday morning at an airport outside Knoxville, Tenn. The contents were then moved to a "secure facility" within the state for analysis.

President Bush has seized on Libya's decision to dismantle its banned-weapons programs voluntarily as an example to other nations with nuclear ambitions.

The shipment was disclosed on the same day he faced pointed questions from reporters about his decision to invade Iraq. David Kay, until last Friday the top US weapons inspector, had concluded Baghdad had no stockpiles of biological or chemical weapons, a contention that was the administration's main justification for going to war.

Yesterday's shipment from Libya was the second so far. Last week, a plane left Tripoli carrying the "most sensitive documentation associated with the Libyan nuclear weapons program," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

He said the shipment was a sign of "real progress" since Libya's leader, Moammar Khadafy, pledged Dec. 19 to abandon efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in a surprise deal with old adversaries Washington and London after years of negotiation. Bush has suggested that the Iraq war was a factor in Khadafy's decision.

Libya's nuclear components were expected to be held at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

McClellan said the transport plane was carrying 55,000 pounds of equipment, including "critical materials related to Libya's nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile capabilities."

"These materials include both sensitive documentation and equipment" -- including centrifuge parts used to enrich uranium as well as uranium hexafluoride.

A centrifuge can be used to enrich uranium for use as nuclear bomb fuel. Uranium hexafluoride is a gas used in that process.

McClellan said the shipment also contained ballistic missile guidance sets for longer-range missiles, which Libya has voluntarily agreed to eliminate.

McClellan said the destruction of Libya's unfilled chemical munitions had already begun within the country.

"While these shipments are only the beginning of the elimination of Libya's weapons, these shipments as well as the close cooperation on the ground in Libya reflect real progress in Libya meeting its commitments," McClellan said.

He said Khadafy "made a courageous decision to give up his weapons. And through this transparent process, the world can see that Colonel Khadafy is keeping his commitment." The United States made clear yesterday that it was not prepared to end the sanctions, at least not yet. "Obviously, there's more to do," McClellan said.