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'Poisonous gases used by Rajneeshites
early example of weapons of mass destruction'

T V Parasuram in Washington

Calling for decisive action against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, a seniour US official has cited the alleged salmonella poisoning by followers of Rajneesh as an early example of its use.

"The Rajneeshites poisoned a salad bar with salmonella in Oregon State in 1984; Aum Shrnrikyo released sarin gas in a Tokyo subway in 1994; Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, and cold-bloodedly gassed its own citizens of Kurdish descent in the spring and summer of 1988," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Marshall Billingslea told a Senate governmental affairs subcommittee.

"The potential for terrorists and other non-state actors gaining access to WMD has raised the cost of failing to contain proliferation. The world has already witnessed the use of chemical and biological agents by terrorists and by states that sponsor terrorism," he said on Monday.

He warned of the possibility of a terrorist attack against US with nuclear weapons or with major chemical, biological or radiological attack by conventional and unconventional means and stressed the need for effective strategy to counter it.

To be effective, "our strategy must encompass a broad range of policies and programmes, including proactive measures." On the international front, he said, "we need to expand and enhance enforcement of existing international nonproliferation treaties and regimes."

PTI

EATERNAL LINKS: More on Rajneesh and his philosophies
Bioterrorism as a public health threat

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