Missile cache could contain nerve gas, claims military, Oops - Pesticide

The find near Hindiyah was at the Albu Mahawish training camp.

Soldiers from the 101st airborne division became ill while staying there. A chemical team was called in, which established they were suffering from exposure to riot control gas. But they tested a 20-gallon drum yesterday, and came to the conclusion that contained sarin and tabun, another nerve agent. A 55-gallon oil drum came up positive for mustard gas.

Bad weather prevented the chemical team taking samples back to their headquarters. The team is not expected to reach a conclusion until today or tomorrow. A Reuters correspondent, Kieran Murray, in central Iraq reported that Major Michael Hamlet of the 101st airborne division said the initial tests revealed levels of nerve agents sarin and tabun and the blister agent lewisite.

National Public Radio said 20 medium-range BM-21 missiles had been found near Baghdad, with warheads filled with sarin, a nerve agent, and mustard gas which burns the skin and damages the respiratory system. They were "ready to fire".

The alleged cache was discovered by marines [Oh boy, thats a blooper!] with the 101st Airborne Division, which was following the army after it seized Baghdad's international airport.

Except - Nerve Gas Just a Pesticide

A military intelligence officer for the US 101st Airborne Division's aviation brigade, Captain Adam Mastrianni, told AFP that comprehensive tests determined the presence of the pesticide compounds.

Initial tests had reportedly detected traces of sarin - a powerful toxin that quickly affects the nervous system - after US soldiers guarding the facility near Hindiyah, 100km south of Baghdad, fell ill.

Mastrianni said: "They thought it was a nerve agent. That's what it tested. But it is pesticide."