- The British Government has issued a warning
to all sea and air ports about a possible threat by Iraq to try to bring
the deadly poison, anthrax, into the country disguised as duty-free goods.
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- The government said it had no evidence
that the plot was implemented, simply that a threat had been made.
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- A Home Office Minister, Michael O'Brien,
said Britain was one of a number of countries that had received intelligence
that Iraq might act against them.
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- The all-ports warning, approved by the
Prime Minister Tony Blair follows a reported threat by the Iraqi leader,
Saddam Hussein, to flood Britain with the toxin disguised inside bottles
of spirits, cosmetics, cigarette lighters and perfume sprays.
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- The US and Britain's other Nato partners
have received the same threat - that anthrax attacks would be carried out
if there was any military action against Iraq.
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- The ports warning in Britain was issued
on March 18, after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had visited Baghdad
and apparently brokered a peace deal with Iraq.
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