Sudan: U.S. Bombed Drug Plant
The United States isn't saying how many cruise missiles hit the Al Shifa pharmaceutical plant but Sudanese officials displayed two that were recovered from the wreckage. CBS News Correspondent Vicki Mabrey reports.
Abdel Latif Ahmed, a plant employee, showed CBS News a bomb crater. He said he is sure that the United States made a mistake. He said there were no chemical weapons at the plant.
 |
| Click here for our Strategic Strike coverage |
"I have witnessed the installation of this factory and there are no chemical weapons and no chemicals," Ahmed said.
For a country that is constantly battling famine and drought, for whom land and animals are a lifeline, this plant made and stored a two-year supply of antibiotics -- not only for animals but also for people. Amoxycillin, a garden-variety antibiotic, was found all over the wreckage.
"The destruction of this plant affects the medicine issue in Sudan, we have been fully dependent on this factory especially malaria and medicine for children," Abdel Aziz Shindu of the Sudan National Assembly said.
A British engineer who helped build the plant insists it could not produce precursors for chemical or nerve gas.
"There were no airlocks or anything like this for decontamination areas, where people handling such chemicals would have to have," British engineer Tom Carnaffin said.
The Sudanese Government wants the world to hear that message. It has given complete access to the international media and taken VIPs on tour.
The wreckage at Al Shifa will be left as is for the time being. Sudanese authorities want American lawmakers to come to the bomb site and judge for themselves.
Reported by Vicki Mabrey.
©1998, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved