Saddam weapons warning

Intelligence agencies are warning that Saddam Hussein could be preparing to provide chemical and biological weapons to terrorist organisations in the Middle East and Asia, including al Qaeda and Hamas.

Some security chiefs fear that Hamas suicide bombers could soon have access to biological weapons. Among other terrorist units that could be helped by Saddam are al Qaeda affiliates operating in Chechnya and Georgia.

Iraq is believed to have acquired a new generation of medium range missiles from the former Soviet Union. They are to replace the Scuds that Saddam's forces fired at Saudi Arabia and Israel during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.