Inspectors 'violated' Iraqi mosque

Baghdad appears to be fanning public anger

An Iraqi cleric has accused United Nations weapons experts of seeking to provoke Muslims by inspecting his mosque in Baghdad.

Sheikh Qutaiba Ammash, the imam of the al-Nidaa mosque, said that a team of inspectors had "profaned" the mosque on Monday.

This is a... provocation for the Muslims in Iraq

Sheikh Qutaiba Ammash
imam

Adding to the mood of indignation, an Iraqi farmer said he was suing the UN for damaging his holdings during a search for proscribed weapons of mass destruction.

As Iraqis vented public criticism of the inspectors, the government in Baghdad reported shooting down another unmanned American spy plane - a report denied by Washington.

Friday condemnation

"This is a profanity... a provocation for the Muslims in Iraq," said Sheikh Ammash, the imam of the capital's Al-Nidaa mosque.

He said that five inspectors had visited the building - which housed "nothing but copies of the holy Koran" - on Monday.

The imam accused the United States of organising the "violation" and appealed to Muslims across the world to condemn it in Friday prayers.

Inspectors, who have virtually unlimited access to sites in Iraq, have not commented on the matter.

They continued their work in Iraq on Wednesday, checking four sites: the al-Badr missile complex and al-Qaqaa military complex, both south of Baghdad; the Technology Institute in Baghdad; and the University of Basra.

'Apologise'

In another development on Wednesday, an Iraqi chicken farmer said he was suing the UN for damage to his property during an inspection.

Sabah Anwar Mohamad Sheikhly, who has had to wind down his poultry business because of UN sanctions, said that inspectors had demolished a door and smashed locks while searching his holdings in the rich farming area of Dourah, south of Baghdad.

Chicken farmer: expects apology

"In the West if you trespass on private land you have guard dogs who bark and prevent you from entering," he told visiting reporters.

"The inspectors encircled the farm and spread out... They asked me to demolish a wall. I was provoked and told them I will not allow anyone to demolish one brick."

He said they only found old farm machinery.

The farmer said he was demanding to be compensated "materially and morally" and expected an apology.

The farm visit could mark a change in tactics for inspectors after nearly two months searching installations to establish if Iraq is still holding illegal weapons.

Drone claim

Washington has denied an Iraqi report on Wednesday that its anti-aircraft batteries had shot down an unmanned American spy plane.

The Iraqis shot down a drone last year

"We did not lose a Predator," Lieutenant Daniel Hetlage, a Pentagon spokesman, told Reuters news agency.

On 23 December, an American reconnaissance drone was shot down over southern Iraq but at the time US officials said it was a "lucky shot" and did not treat it as a significant hostile act.

An Iraqi military spokesman said the latest Predator was hit as it flew in from Kuwait.