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[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] [ Presenting plain-text part of multi-format email ] Dear list, Reports have come out today that dozens of mortar shells in southern Iraq have been found by Danish forces "Which could contain chemical weapons according to inital tests" according to the BBC. The story goes on to say that the shells have been buried for at least ten years, and were probably left over from the Iran-Iraq war. The shells also "showed traces of blister gases, a group of chemical compounds which include mustard gas." These reports are at this stage sketchy and conclusions are awaiting final tests, the results of which won't be known for a couple of days. This finding is not dramatic at all, but does anyone know anything about the "shelf life" of these chemical compounds. For instance, would they still be usable? The Danish army has said "most were wrapped in plastic bags, and some were leaking," and they don't appear to have been in any usable state, but I'm not well informed on this. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate this, I doubt very much if this is a "smoking gun," but I just want to get the right information. thanks, Peter Kiernan _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk