Wednesday, November 18, 1998 Published at 22:08 GMT
Iraqi defector tells BBC of hidden weapons
Iraqi defector Abbas al-Janabi speaking to Hardtalk
Click here to watch the interview
An Iraqi defector has alleged that the Iraqi regime is continuing to hide weapons and move them between locations to keep them from UN weapons inspectors.
Mr Janabi said in an exclusive television interview for the BBC programme Hardtalk that biological and chemical weapons and rocket launchers were constantly being moved between sites.
"Whenever there is a crisis between Iraq and the United Nations that means there is a shift operation," he said. "They are moving always."
He said there was an army brigade dedicated to moving weapons from site to site but there was no point in mentioning where these sites were located as the Iraqi leadership would just change them.
"When you put him in a cage he will be very dangerous. He may use chemical or biological [weapons] or what he has."
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Robbins said it was impossible to verify the testimony, but it is supported by news of more recent massacres of the Iraqi president's opponents in Iraq.
Mr Janabi also said the army was being equipped through the Russian black market.
He said he had seen helicopter spare parts being smuggled in.
"It is from Russia but not official. By mediators, you know those who work in the black market. The army black market.
'The richest man in Iraq'
Mr Janabi said he had been tortured on the orders of Uday Hussein before defecting.
He said he had personally seen his former boss kill four people.
He alleged there was a thriving sanctions-busting smuggling operation through Turkey and Iran with Uday playing a key role.
"They take the barges from Basra to a port in Iran and there they change the flag from the Iraqi flag to the Iranian."
He said Uday was the richest man in Iraq and keeps his money in Swiss banks.
"You can ask the Swiss banks. And also in Iraq - he has cash money. He has rooms of money - believe me."
The interview can be seen on TV at the following times (all GMT):
BBC News 24