An Iraqi scientist interviewed by United Nations weapons inspectors has denied providing them with details about a possible Iraqi nuclear programme.

Dr Kazem Mijbil, a metallurgist, said the comments by the inspectors were grossly exaggerated.

He was speaking after the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Committee (Unmovic) said Dr Mijbil had provided useful information about a military programme.

"I strongly deny this," Dr Mijbil told reporters in Baghdad. "Frankly I´m very disturbed... over these statements because they don´t relate to reality."

Dr Mijbil was the second Iraqi scientist to be interviewed in connection with the UN inspectors´ search for evidence that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction, banned by the UN.

Suspect tubes

The scientist said he was a "simple metallurgist" who was involved in "cleaning" aluminium piping used in the production of short range missiles, permitted by UN resolutions.

The United States and Britain have warned that aluminium piping can be used to enrich uranium as part of an illicit nuclear programme.

On Friday, Unmovic spokesman Hiro Ueki said Dr Mijbil provided information which could be linked to a "clandestine nuclear programme".

But the scientist told a news conference on Saturday he was "very annoyed" by Mr Ueki´s comments.

"Does cleaning an aluminium tube from corrosion with basic chemicals... lead to a secret programme?" he asked.

Interviews abroad

Dr Mijbil warned against plans by UN experts to interview Iraqi scientists outside of Iraq.

"What will be the situation when anybody, not myself, any other scientist, will be interviewed abroad?

"I think there will be a lot of misunderstandings, lots of provocations, lots of lies," he said.

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1441, weapons experts are to be allowed to interview scientists inside or outside Iraq, with or without an Iraqi Government official present.

Iraq has until the end of this month to provide the UN with a complete list of scientists involved in current of former programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Baghdad, which has admitted to pursuing such programmes in the past, insists it is no longer developing banned weapons.

Last week, Iraq´s chief liaison officer with the UN inspectors, General Hossam Mohammad Amin, said the teams had visited 188 sites but had found no incriminating evidence. (BBC.CO.UK 12/28/02)