Channel News Asia
A major report by a leading think tank indicates that Iraq's nuclear capabilities are still underdeveloped but could grow quickly with outside help.
In a study released ahead of US President Geroge W Bush's United Nations speech on Iraq on Thursday, the International Institute of Strategic Studies said Baghdad lacks the ability to make its own nuclear material.
The report released by the London-based Institute says Iraq does not, by itself, have the facilities to make enough material for a nuclear weapon.
"Our net assessment of the current situation is that Iraq does not possess facilities to produce fissile material in sufficient amounts for nuclear weapons. It would require several years and extensive foreign assistance to build such fissile material production facilities", John Chipman, Director of the IISS and one of the authors of the report, told a news conference.
But the research group was quick to point out that Iraq could "probably assemble" one within months if President Saddam Hussein could get fissile material from abroad.
Analysts at the IISS believe Saddam had probably retained substantial quantities of material for use in a biological weapon, possibly thousands of litres of anthrax, from pre-1991 stocks.
They say he would be capable of resuming biological weapons production in just a few weeks.
The report also deals with Saddam's missile capabilities, saying he has a limited ability to deliver a long range weapon.
The findings - presented in both London and Washington DC - was compiled by a range of experts and focused particular concern on Iraq's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
The dossier appears to back up former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter's doubts that Iraq is actually harboring weapons of mass destruction.
"Right now the Bush administration is preparing for a war against Iraq. It appears to be without cause, without justification," Mr Ritter said.
"They will put the United States at odds with international law, so I'm appealing to the American people, before you complicity allow this war to occur, please take a step back and examine the facts."
But Mr Ritter added that he remains concerned about the country's weapons programmes.
