MELBOURNE, NOV 25: Iraq is suspected of concealing an arsenal of biological weapons capable of mass destruction, a visiting UN official warned here today.

Helmut Hoenig, a member of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) responsible for scrapping Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, said the UN strongly suspected Iraq of concealing large quantities of biological weaponry, following its refusal to allow UN inspectors access to certain sites.

``The worst scenario would be sufficient for the killing of all the world population,'' the Austrian expert said in an interview here.

``We do think they have enough to be a real threat to the Middle East region. We think they are hiding a network of still-functioning weapons of mass destruction.''

While the cultivation of large quantities of bacteria was one threat, Iraq would need specially designed aerosol sprays, bombs or warheads to disperse bacteria and wage biological warfare.

``They have technically reached that stage; they could do it,'' Hoenig said.

UN arms inspectors, blocked by Iraq since October 29 in a confrontation over the presence of US nationals in the inspection teams, resumed work only on Saturday.

Iraq has admitted in the past to producing thousands of litres of bacteria including anthrax, botulinus toxin and a carcinogenic called aflatoxin.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.