'Systematic' removal seen of Iraq nuclear equipment

VIENNA -- Missing nuclear-related equipment in Iraq was removed by specialists working systematically over an extended period, diplomats said yesterday, contradicting Iraqi officials who suggested that little was taken and only randomly by looters.

Their comments were in response to assertions from Baghdad that high-precision equipment removed from Iraq's nuclear facilities was stolen haphazardly and immediately after last year's US invasion.

The diplomats, who are familiar with the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, suggested the IAEA remained concerned that because of the planning and operational skills of those involved, the equipment could be sold to rogue governments or terrorist groups interested in making nuclear weapons.

In a letter to the UN Security Council on Monday, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the IAEA, said satellite photos and follow-up investigations show ''widespread and apparently systematic dismantlement" at sites related to Iraq's nuclear program.

On Tuesday, Iraq's interim science and technology minister, Rashad Omar, said all sites under the interim government's control have been secured.

The minister said the missing equipment -- which the IAEA says includes milling machines and electron beam welders -- was taken in the looting spree after last year's invasion. The sites were secured by coalition forces before they were turned over to Iraqi authorities in June, he said.

''The locations under my control are very well protected," Omar said. ''Not even a single screw is being taken away without my knowledge."

One diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said satellite imagery showed random looters could not have been involved because of the complicated planning and scale of the operations.

The scale of the operation -- whole buildings were razed -- had led to speculation within the agency that the Americans had spirited sensitive material out of Iraq and neglected to tell the IAEA, even though the equipment had been under agency seals.

But one of the diplomats said that Washington had not indicated any involvement since ElBaradei publicized his concerns.