Iraq signs UN treaty outlawing chemical weapons
Posted: 14 January 2009 1825 hrs

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UNITED NATIONS : Iraq, which used chemical weapons during Saddam Hussein's regime, became the 186th nation to ratify an international treaty banning them, UN officials announced here on Wednesday.

The 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Iraq joined on Tuesday, "is the first multilateral treaty to ban - with international verification - an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," the United Nations said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Iraq "on its decision as it demonstrates its commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation," read a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson.

Ban "firmly believes that reaching universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention will significantly promote international peace and security and urges the remaining states not party to take the necessary measures to accede to the Convention as early as possible".

Saddam used chemical weapons during the 1980-1988 war with Iran, and in March 1988 attacked Iraqi Kurds in the town of Halabja with chemical weapons, killing some 5,000 people. - AFP/ms