E já me esquecia desta

Top weapons hunter dilutes Bush, Powell claim about bacteria

Saturday, October 04, 2003
BY JOHN J. LUMPKIN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Both President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell contended yesterday that a vial of botulinum bacteria found in Iraq is evidence of Saddam Hussein's weapons intent. But David Kay, the chief U.S. weapons inspector, said the vial had been stored for safekeeping in an Iraqi scientist's refrigerator since 1993.

And Kay offered no evidence it had been used in a weapons program during the last decade.

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As for the vial, it contained live bacteria that make botulinum toxin -- a toxin that can be used as a biological weapon. But experts say there are many complicated steps between possessing a vial of bacteria and producing enough of the toxin to create a weapon. That would require relatively sophisticated equipment and processing.

The bacteria itself is a common cause of food poisoning.

Kay, in a briefing with reporters after Powell and Bush spoke, said the Iraqi scientist who had the vial had been given it for safekeeping at his home by another, more senior scientist, in 1993. The scientist initially had other samples, most of which he quickly returned because of concerns for his family's safety.

"He was actually storing them in his refrigerator," Kay said. "He had small children."

Although tests showed that the one vial of bacteria that the scientist kept was still viable, Kay offered no evidence it had been used in a weapons program during the last decade.