Iraqi arms scientists killed before they talk

Anti-coalition forces have killed a prominent Iraqi chemical-weapons scientist whom U.S. investigators were questioning at Abu Ghraib prison, in an attempt to unravel the mysteries of Saddam Hussein's arsenal.

The scientist's death is not the first such killing, and it has some U.S. analysts wondering whether there is a pattern and also whether the Iraqi insurgents had incredibly good intelligence and a deadly aim -- or were just lucky.

Last spring, according to two defense officials, the United States detained an Iraqi scientist who was active in the nation's development of chemical weapons.

The man, whom the sources declined to identify, was not cooperative at first. The Iraq Survey Group (ISG) had him held at Abu Ghraib prison for further questioning. He seemed to be ready to offer up valuable information.

But then one night, the insurgents fired a volley of mortar rounds into the prison. One landed near enough to kill the chemical expert. Any chance that he might have disclosed information on what happened to Saddam's stocks of chemical shells vanished in the explosion.

The death is at least the fourth hostile-fire killing of Iraqi scientists who had been talking to the ISG. There have been press reports that as many as nine have been slain.

One of the country's most prominent nuclear scientists, Majid Hussein Ali, was found dead earlier this year, shot twice in the back. He had been questioned by the ISG.

David Kay, who led the weapons search until he resigned in December, said in October that two scientists, whom he did not name, cooperating with the ISG were killed.

"We think it was because, in fact, he was engaged in discussion with us," Mr. Kay said of one of the killings.

A U.S. intelligence official, who asked not to be named, confirmed to The Washington Times that the scientist at Abu Ghraib was killed by a mortar round. But he said officials think it was a lucky shot, because the insurgents have a poor record on mortar accuracy.

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