Experts probe suspected chemical site

US military experts are investigating an Iraqi compound suspected of producing chemical weapons.

A reportedly 100-acre complex, bounded by an electric fence and apparently draped in aerial camouflage, was discovered by troops in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf.

It is sited in an area previously visited by United Nations inspectors, it has emerged.

The Hans Blix inspection team visited a cement factory in the same area, 90 miles south of Baghdad in January, a leading defence official said.

US officials confirmed the find of the suspected chemical facility and experts were trying to determine whether it was involved in making banned weapons.

Caroline Glick, a Jerusalem Post reporter "embedded" with a 3rd US Infantry unit, reported:

"The huge 100-acre complex, which is surrounded by a electrical fence, is perhaps the first illegal chemical plant to be uncovered by US troops in their current mission in Iraq.

"The surrounding barracks resemble an abandoned slum.

"It wasn't immediately clear exactly which chemicals were being produced here, but clearly the Iraqis tried to camouflage the facility so it could not be photographed aerially, by swathing it in sand-cast walls to make it look like the surrounding desert."

John Eldridge, editor of defence industry bible Jane's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence, said: "There is a large cement factory in Naraf. It would be no surprise that it has the capability to produce chemicals because cement produces chemicals."

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