Near Najaf, Apr 04: The threat of an Iraqi chemical or biological attack against coalition forces has become "negligible," US military sources in Iraq told a news agency. "Now that we have penetrated Baghdad's outer ring, the likelihood (of a chemical or biological attack) is negligible," said Captain Adam Mastrianni, the intelligence officer of the 101st Airborne Division's aviation brigade. "The commanding general of the 101st, General David Petraeus, gave the order that soldiers in the division would be able to take off their anti-chemical and biological suits as of today morning," he added. Mastrianni's aviation brigade is still based near the central Iraqi town of Najaf. He explained to the a news agency correspondent travelling with US troops that the non-conventional threat against coalition troops engaged in Iraq had receded across the board. US military planners had feared that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might launch a chemical attack when US and British troops reached three zones.

"We thought if he was going to use chemicals, the first major town he was going to use them in was in Karbala," a major Shiite town less than 100 kilometres south of Baghdad, Mastrianni said.

"The next major zone, was when we (coalition troops) penetrated outer Baghdad," he said, saying that could be defined as areas within 30 klometres of the capital.

Bureau Report