U.N. inspectors talk to an Iraqi official at the Al-Nasser al-Adeem plant

BAGHDAD, December 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - An Iraqi scientist provided U.N. arms inspectors with details Friday, December 27, of a military program that is under review as possibly being linked to a secret nuclear program, inspectors' spokesman Hiro Ueki said.

In his daily statement on inspections, Ueki said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) interviewed a "metallurgist from a high visibility state company", reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"He provided technical details of a military program. This program has attached considerable attention as a possible prelude to a clandestine nuclear program. The answers will be of great use in completing the IAEA assessment."

Ueki provided no more details on the interview in the statement, but said there would be a press briefing on Saturday evening.

However, he told AFP that it was only the "second formal interview" that U.N. arms inspectors had conducted since resuming field operations in Baghdad, November 27 and was carried out "in private".

An interview conducted by inspectors Thursday, December 26, had been "routine, not a formal" one.

On Tuesday, December 24, inspectors had visited Baghdad's Technology University and interviewed Sabah Abdul Nur, a professor who had previously been linked to Iraq's nuclear program.

Inspection Continue

Friday was the 28th day of inspections since experts resuming work in late November and took place as Baghdad stood by its assertions that there was nothing for them to find.

Three convoys of all-terrain vehicles belonging to the U.N. Monitoring, Control and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC) pulled out of their base at the former Canal Hotel at 8:30 am (0530 GMT).

Iraqi officials said one team, consisting of chemical and missile specialists, had gone to inspect the Al-Nasser Al-Addem company in Dawra on the southern outskirts of the capital.

A group of biological experts went to the Al-Zafaraniya alcohol manufacturing plant in Baghdad.

And a group of support specialists traveled to Mosul, 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of the capital, to arrange lodgings for a branch office that is to be set up there.

Ueki said in his statement that an UNMOVIC biological team inspected the Modern Chemical Industries in Hav Bavil, Baghdad.

This private company, previously monitored for dual (civilian and military) use, produces industrial alcohol, medicinal-grade alcohol and alcoholic spirits.

Ueki said the company was closed for the Christmas holiday, but that access was granted to the offices, production areas and a laboratory.

He said an UNMOVIC chemical team inspected the Al-Nasser al-Addem state company, a facility for heavy engineering, to continue re-baselining.

A missile team also went to the site of the company, which does a wide range of metal working for both civilian and military purposes.

Some members of the team held talks with site personnel, while others inspected the buildings.

“No Direct or Indirect Proof”

On Thursday, General Hossam Mohammad Amin, head of the Iraqi body that liaises with the inspectors, said U.N. experts had "found no direct or indirect proof" that Iraq possesses weapons prohibited by the United Nations.

"In the final analysis, the teams have not been able to find any evidence ... to support American and British allegations that Iraq is harboring or storing banned weapons," Amin averred.

He also hinted at a possible clash between Iraq and the United States over U.N. interviews with Iraqi weapons scientists.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, which tightened the inspections regime, requires "immediate, unimpeded, unrestricted, and private access to all officials and other persons whom UNMOVIC or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wish to interview".

Washington has been pressing the U.N. inspectors to use the authority aggressively and conduct interviews abroad if necessary.

But Amin, who chairs the National Monitoring Agency, said that neither it, the Iraqi government, UNMOVIC nor the IAEA could constrain anyone to be interviewed.

"We leave them the choice to accept or refuse," he said.

The inspectors are tasked under Resolution 1441 with determining whether Iraq possesses or is developing any weapons prohibited under a serious of resolutions.

Russia condemns U.S.-British bombing of Iraq

In a separate related development, Russia expressed "serious concern" Friday over U.S. and British air strikes against Iraq that Baghdad officials said killed at least three civilians and wounded 16 others.

Russia said the bombings of Iraqi sites were made without agreement from the United Nations and only complicated the security situation in the region.

"Moscow observes with seriously concern the continuing U.S. and British air strikes against Iraqi targets -- which include civilian ones," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Russia once again persistently calls (on other powers) to refrain from actions against Iraq that infringe on its sovereignty," the statement added.

Russia again called on the United States and Britain to abide by U.N. Security Council resolution 1441.

U.S. ready for unilateral action against Iraq

The U.S. "ready to launch a unilateral war against Iraq…without recourse to the U.N. Security Council" for an authorization, says Welch

In Cairo, the American ambassador said his country is ready to strike Iraq  without U.N. Security Council authorization "if necessary", but prefers a "multilateral" approach.

"The United States is ready to launch a unilateral war against Iraq if necessary and without recourse to the U.N. Security Council" for an authorization to use force, David Welch told Egypt's official Middle East News Agency, MENA.

But he added Washington preferred "collective multilateral work".

Despite opposition to a U.S.-led war shown by fellow Security Council members France, Russia and China, Welch said he was confident these parties would "adopt a resolution (ordering) a strike against Iraq if necessary."

Hundreds of Bahrainis march in support of Iraq

Several hundred Bahrainis took to the streets following weekly prayers Friday to demonstrate against an a possible U.S.-led assault on Iraq, an AFP correspondent witnessed.

During the march, demonstrators waved Bahraini and Iraqi flags and banners saying "no to preparations" for a war.

The left-wing Democratic Nationalist Association, which organized the march, issued a statement expressing its rejection of the "coming American aggression against Iraq.

"We call on all Arab and Islamic regimes to organize an urgent conference to devise a strategy aimed at avoiding the danger of such an aggression," the statement added.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and some 5,000 US military personnel.

In October, Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said his country was "opposed to this war because it will seriously harm Bahrain and the entire region."