Chemical weapons in Iran: confirmation by specialists, condemnation by Security Council.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar, in commenting on the specialists' report, said that in light of the "spirit of humanitarian concern" which had led him to decide on the investigation, he "cannot but deplore than their unanimous conclusions substantiate the allegations that chemical weapons have been used." He reiterated that he "strongly condemns the use of such weapons wherever and whenever this may occur."

The poisonous liquids were contained in aerial bombs which appeared to have been designed so that when exploded, the liquid would disperse over a large area in the form of spray and vapour.

The specialists--from Australia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland--examined a number of persons, most of them Iranian soldiers, whose symptoms indicated exposure to the chemicals. Symptoms included skin lesions and blisters; respiratory, nasal and eye problems; nausea and tremours, blood abnormalities, and other conditions.

They examined several bomb remnants and unexploded bombs that had been recovered. Their liquid contents were sampled and analysed, both in Teheran and in laboratories in Sweden and Switzerland, which verified its toxicity.

In his comments, the Secretary-General said he attached "paramount importance" to strict observance of rules of international conduct to prevent or alleviate human suffering, "whether they relate to the use of specific weapons, the treatment of prisoners of war or any other aspects of military operations".

He also remained "deeply convinced" that those concerns could only be fully satisfied by putting an end to the "tragic conflict that continues to deplete the precious human resources of Iran and Iraq". He was ready to assist in any endeavour that could lead to peace and hoped both Governments would "give such efforts a chance", he said.

He expressed appreciation for the group's work, undertaken "despite constraints in time and resources, and under difficult and hazardous conditions".

Investigation Launched: On 9 March, the Secretary-General decided to dispatch the group to investigate the Iranian allegations. A spokesman for Mr. Perez de Cuellar said the Secretary-General had taken his decision under his own authority, as the Charter gave him the "moral responsibility" to do so.

The Secretary-General stated that press reports indicated that the medical authorities in countries where Iranian nationals were being treated or relevant data was being analysed "had not excluded the possibility that chemical weapons had been used". Also, he referred to a "growing call" by Governments and public and private organizations for "an objective and impartial investigation".

The specialists, acting as indificuals in their personal capacity, are: Gustav Andersson of Sweden, Senior Research Chemist at Sweden's National Defence Research Institute; Dr. Manuel Dominguez of Spain, Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Colonel, Army Medical Corps and specialist in antibacteriological and chemical warfare; Dr. Peter Dunn, Superintending Scientist at Australia's Materials Research Laboratories; and Colonel Ulrich Imobersteg of Switzerland, Chief of chemical weapons defence for the Swiss Army.

Diego Cordovez, Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs coordinated the work and itinerary for the group with Iranian officials. Iqbal Syed Riza, Principal Officer in Mr. Cordovez's office, accompanied the specialists to Iran to help co-ordinate their work and ensure liaison with government authorities.

Itinerary: The group arrived in Teheran on Tuesday, 13 March, where they met with senior government officials before visiting a mortuary to examine a number of bodies.

On 14 March, they visited the war zone, during a trip lasting 23 hours without interruption, surveying the sites, examining aerial bombs and collecting samples, and interviewing patients in a field hospital.

On 15 March, they examined patients in Teheran hospitals and tested samples collected in the war zone. On 16 and 17 March, they examined in Teheran aerial bombs transported from the war zone.

On 18 March, after Iranian authorities alleged that a new chemical attack had taken place, the specialists returned to the war zone, examined patients in the Tafti Stadium Infirmary, received new samples and returned to Terehan for further patient interviews. On 19 March, they left Teheran for Geneva, where they prepared their report.

Report findings: The group stressed that their conclusions had been unanimous. The investigation had included interviews with government officials; visits to the war zone; examination of weapons and collection of samples for analysis; clinical examinations of victims; and mortuary examination of corpses.

The specialists states that members of the "Pasdaran" -- revolutionary Guards -- had reported attacks in which three Iraqi aircraft had dropped about eight bombs in the area of Shatt-e-Ali. Craters about six feet deep and 16 feet wide were examined, as were empty casings of seven bombs. Two partially damaged aerial bombs and an unexploded bomb were examined in a second area near Hoor-Ul-Huwaizeh.

The specialists reported: "Neither area surveyed appeared to be of a type that would normally be selected as a target for conventional attack. Bombs containing chemicals might be used in an attempt to completely clear the area, so that it could, after a safe period, be occupied by an attacking force. It is also possible that in the reported attack on shatt-e-Ali, the artillery position might have been the objective and was not correctly targeted."

Examination of the bobm remnants revealed all had contained a "liquid substance". Because the bomb casings were made of thin steel -- from 1 to 2 millimeters thick -- the specialists felt they were not intended to be used as a conventional high-explosive weapon. Each bomb also had a timing fuse, indicating it could be set to explode at an optional altitude to achieve maximum effect. The fuses carried directions written in Spanish.

Victims interviewed reported the explosions in which mustard gas had been employed had produced a flash, and, in many cases, an odour described as "acrid" and "resembling that of garlic". Victims of bombs containing the nerve agent suffered from respiratory problems, acute agitation, nausea and vomiting, urinal and fecal incontinence, slight tremours of the limbs, tongue and mouth, and eye and other problems.

Most patients had been equipped with self-injectable atropine, which they had used immediately after the attack, and which had "probably diminished the intensity of the symptoms", the report stated. Background

The decision to dispatch the specialists to the region was taken after more than four months of discussions and exchanges of letters in the context of Security Council resolution 540 (1983) of 31 October 1983, and requests by Iran and Iraq for various fact-finding missions for different purposes. Many of the letters sent by the two countries to the Secretary-General detailed military attacks in the area, with Iran alleging the use of chemical weapons by Iraq.

The conflict between the two countries began in September 1980, and since then, the Security Council has been seized of the issue, adopting four resolutions -- 479 (1980), 514 (1982), 522 (1982) and 540 (1983).

By resolution 540, adopted by a vote of 12 in favour to none against, with three abstentions (Malta, Nicaragua and Pakistan), the Council condemned all violations of international humanitarian law; called for the "immediate cessaltion of all military operations against civilian targets, including city and residential areas"; asked the Secretary-General to continue his mediation efforts with the parties concerned, "with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just and honourable settlement acceptable to both sides"; and requested him to consult with them on "ways to sustain and verify the cessation of hostilities, including the possible dispatch of United Nations observers", and to report to the Council on those consultations.

iraq has indicated its willingness to co-operate in implementing Council resolution 540, stating it was ready to co-operate in finding an "effective system for ensuring a ceasefire", the Secretary-General reported. He said iraq also stated it "warns in advance against any attempts at a partial implementation" of resolution 540, as its acceptance was based "solely on the premise that the resolution is an integrated and indivisible whole, with regard to both substance and to the timing and procedures for the implemenation of all its paragraphs", and in particular, on the premise "that all the parties concerned shall benefit from its implementation immediately and in a balanced manner".

Iran, however, had dissociated itself from the text, stating it was "one-sided", "unconstructive" and "isolated from the facts and realities of the situation". Any "attempt by the Security Council to create a machinery which would shield Iraq from reaping the fruits of its own treacherous aggression" against Iran "would constitute a clear encouragement for the aggressor", Iran said, and would "only give it the desperately needed space and opportunity to resupply and organize for further acts of aggression". The call for consultations dealt "with the issue in a very superficial manner" and did not contain "any positive element that may lead to a just and durable peace", Iran added.

Iran had previously proposed that the Secretary-General dispatch his representative to the area "to witness the realities on the scene", with the purpose of updating a previous report to the Security Council on attacks against civilian targets in the area (document S/15834). That report, dated 20 June 1983, was based on the findings of a four-man mission which inspected civilian areas in the two countries in May 1983.

Since November 1983, Iran also repeatedly charged Iraq with using chemical weapons. It said it would co-operate with the Secretary-General on an investigation of "violations of international humanitarian law in the Iran/Iraq conflict", and specifically suggested the Secretary-General's representative visit both countries, examine the validity of claims concerning military actions against civilians, as well as investigate allegations of chemical weapons use.

Iraq had consistently denied the charges of chemical weapons use. On 29 November 1983, for example, it said it "categorically rejects" the allegations, and "any response to the iranian allegations, through the dispatch of either a representative or an expert or a team of experts".

Iraq also said the various Iranian proposals sought "to fragment the process adopted internationally by the United Nations for the resolution of the conflict between Iraq and Iran through a peaceful, just and honourable settlement", and "sabotaged the honest efforts" of the Security Council to initiate a fresh movement for peace.

Mission Proposed: On 13 December, the Secretary-General stated that, in line with Council resolution 540, it had been his intention to send, with the concurrence of the two Governments, a small mission of senior officials of the Secretariat to Baghdad and Teheran, as that would be "the most effective means of conducting with the parties the consultations" envisaged in the resolution.

Both Iran and Iraq subsequently sent the Secretary-General letters reiterating previously stated positions. On 7 February, a spokesman for the Secretary-General said that resolution 540, which envisaged a mission to the area, had not been accepted by Iran. Iraq would only accept a mission under that resolution. "Therefore, there is a dilemma which we are trying to resolve", he said.

On 10 February, the Secretary-General sent nearly-identical letters to Iraq and Iran (documents S/16337 and S/16338, respectively) expressing his deep concern with the mounting toll in life and continued suffering exacted by the conflict and recalling Iran's request for a fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of military attacks on civilian areas.

He said he felt "duty-bound" to dispatch such a mission, "all the more so since both parties have made repeated allegations of attacks on civilian targets". Once there was an understanding between the parties on the scope of its functions, a mission could depart to the area on very short notice, he said.

"It would ascertain the facts in the civilian areas subject to military attack in order to update" the report of a previous mission. It would also ascertain the "authoritative positions of both Governments regarding other questions related to the conflict". Only through direct discussions with the Governments could the Secretary-General hope to contribute towards any efforts to maintain international peace and security, he said. He said he hoped both Governments would "react posiitively" to his proposal.

in further communications, Iraq made clear it wanted a comprehensive discussion of all elements of the conflict. It stated it was prepared to sign an agreement with Iran, under the supervision of the United Nations, to avoid striking civilian targets. Iraq Iraq also proposed another mission be dispatched to investigate the issue of the treatment of prisoners of war in both Iran and Iraq.

Iran initially said it would agree to a mission with a mandate to ascertain the authoritative positions of both countries and to investigated its allegations of chemical weapons use. Later, Iran stated that because of continuing missile attacks and bombings, the mission should be restricted to updating the 1983 report and investigating possible chemical weapons use.

More Proposals: On 21 February, Iraq wrote the Secretary-General that it was essential "to develop effective mechanisms to ensure international supervision and enable the international community to identify contradictory statements and guarantee that towns, villages and civilians in both countries would not be hit". The United Nations could develop such mechanisms.

On 5 March, the Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations at a press briefing said there was "overwhelming evidence" of use of chemical weapons by iraq against Iran. The evidence of such use would "fade away" in the field unless United Nations authorities recorded it. Some 1,000 persons had been injured by chemical weapons, 35 per cent of whom had been slightly injured and had returned to the front after treatment. Some 400 persons had died.

There had also been a number of press reports concerning evidence of the use of chemical weapons. By this time, the Secretary-General had intensified his consultations with his advisers on the alternatives regarding any action which the United Nations could take.

On 7 March, a spokesman for the Secretary-General said a number of questions had been raised by "the press and other quarters" regarding the position of the Secretary-General on the use of chemical weapons. "There should be no doubt whatever that the Secretary-General categorically and strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons wherever and whenever this may occur", he said.

On 8 March, Iran in a letter to the Secretary-General said "most regrettably, no positive action" had been taken by the United Nations regarding its repeated requests for an investigation of "Iraqi violations of international humanitarian laws, and particularly regarding the use of internationally prohibited chemical weapons by Iraq".

Citing resolution 37/98 D--by which the Assembly had asked the Secretary-General, with the assistance of qualified consultant experts--to devise procedures for the investigation of information concerning activities that might constitute a violation of the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting the use of chemical weapons--Iran said it was "incumbent upon" the Secretary-General "to take immediate action in order to present a report to the international body".

(Resolution 37/98 D was adopted on 13 December by a vote of 86 in favour to 19 against, with 33 abstentions. Voting against were: Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Byelorussian SSR, Congo, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Grenada, Hungary, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mongolia, Poland, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukrainian SSR, USSR and Viet Nam.)

On 8 MArch, the Secretary-General announced that he had decided to dispatch a team of specialists to Iran to investigate the allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons. Later that day, Security Council members at a closed meeting were briefed on the results of bilateral consultations conducted by the Council President regarding the continuing conflict.

On 9 March, Iraq said it had agreed to comply with all Security Council resolutions concerning the Iraq-Iran conflict and had "declared its complete readiness to settle the conflict by peaceful means" in compliance with the United Nations Charter. It asked the Secretary-General to declare his "unequivocal and clearly defined position with regard to the fact that the Iranian regime continues to wage a flagrant war of aggression against Iraq and refuses to comply with obligations imposed on Iran" by the Charter with regard to respect for Security Council and General Assembly resolutions "and with regard to its violations of provisions of humanitarian international law concerning the treatment of prisoners of war".

Iraq, in a 27 March letter to the Secretary-General (document S/16438), stated it had not used chemical weapons against Iran.

Iraq said it had no comment to make on the report of the specialists sent to investigate the Iranian allegations, nor did it "consider itself concerned with it". If the "experts sent by the Secretary-General found substances of this kind in some Iranian areas, Iran is the one which bears responsibility for that", it said.

"Accordingly, the possibility cannot be ruled out of Iran's fabricating circumstances whereby it seeks to create justifications for its defeats in its aggression against Iraq and to divert the gaze of international public opinion from the basic issue, namely, the necessity of halting the war", Iraq said.

In acceding to Iran's request for the investigation, Iraq said, the Secretariat had enabled Iran to "exploit the Secretary-General's role for propaganda purposes".