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Iraq 'Could Have Bomb in 6 Months'
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
The Sunday Times

When the UN team was forced from the country in 1998, it estimated that it would take Iraq two years to make a nuclear device. "We've been out of there for four years. Yes, with the basic core material, if they have it, it seems reasonable to me to say six months or so and they could have one put together."

Iraq could produce a nuclear bomb within six months if it acquired core materials on the Russian black market, the former head of the United Nations weapons inspection team has said.

Richard Butler said today Iraq had the know-how but not the necessary core material such as highly enriched uranium or plutonium.

With such material they could build a bomb within about six months, he said.

"We know they've been getting material to enrich uranium. That's what (U.S.) Vice-President (Dick) Cheney has now revealed.

"We know they recalled their scientists to work on the program some time ago," Mr Butler said.
(More: News Interactive News Source)
2002 © Sunday Times.

Dan