Ukraine missile sales are alleged

KIEV -- A senior legislator called yesterday for Ukraine's prosecutor general to investigate alleged sales of nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran and China in violation of international nonproliferation treaties.

The appeal, by Hrihory Omelchenko, follows allegations he made in a letter to new President Viktor Yushchenko. Omelchenko is a Parliament member allied with Prime Minister-designate Yulia Tymoshenko and is a reserve colonel in the intelligence service.

Yushchenko, who succeeded Leonid Kuchma, has promised a thorough investigation of corruption and misdeeds that allegedly flourished during his predecessor's 10 years as president. Kuchma allegedly sanctioned the sale of sophisticated radar systems to Iraq in 2002, contravening United Nations sanctions.

''I want him to begin his mandate with a clean record," Omelchenko said of Yushchenko.

In his letter to Yushchenko, Omelchenko said an investigation launched last summer ''proved that some 20 air-launched Kh-55 and Kh-55M cruise missiles with nuclear capability were exported to third countries" in contravention of international treaties.

''Six missiles destined for Russia ended up in Iran . . . six missiles destined for Russia ended up in China," the letter said. It said the sales occurred in 2000-01.

Vyacheslav Astapov, a spokesman for Ukraine's prosecutor general, said the office began an investigation into the alleged sales last summer and ''this year, we received new information."

Astapov also said a top-ranking Iranian diplomat in Ukraine met with Prosecutor General Svyatoslav Piskun, but he didn't elaborate.

Iranian diplomats in Kiev were not available for comment.

Omelchenko also alleged that businessmen from several enterprises -- including state-run weapons exporter Ukrspetseksport and related companies in the United States, Cyprus, and Iran, as well as individuals from the Ukrainian security service -- shared hefty profits from several illicit defense deals that included sales of radar equipment to Eritrea.

Yesterday, Omelchenko said Ukrspetseksport director Valeriy Shmarov and other officials involved in the alleged sales should be arrested. ''All officials, despite their connections, should be held responsible," he said.

Officials from Ukrspetseksport and Ukraine's Security Service were not available for comment.

The Kh-55, known in the West as the AS-15, has a range of 1,860 miles and is designed to carry a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead. The United States, among others, says Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapons production program.

The Kh-55 is designed for use on Russian-made Tupolev long-range bombers. Iran's Air Force does not operate such planes, but some military analysts have suggested its Soviet-built Su-24 strike aircraft could be adapted to use the Kh-55. China operates about 120 H-6 medium-range bombers.

In the early 1990s, Ukraine renounced the nuclear armaments it inherited in the breakup of the Soviet Union and said it shipped its nuclear warheads to Russia for decommissioning under US control.

The country remains a sizable producer of weapons, including missiles, aircraft, and tanks. Exports are largely to other former Soviet republics, Asia, and Africa.