The World : Poison Gas Cargo Barred

Dubai officials turned back part of a chemical cargo ordered by Iran through a Duesseldorf firm, West German sources said in Bonn. About 257 tons of thionyl chloride, which can be used to make mustard gas, was ordered by Iran through Rheineisen Chemical Products, which is under investigation in West Germany’s second chemical arms export scandal in the last six months. The Bonn sources said Dubai officials who inspected the ship over the weekend found six containers of the Indian-made chemical on board, a fraction of the amount ordered. They ordered the ship to return its cargo to Bombay.