"This evening, a private interview was conducted with an Iraqi biological scientist along," spokesperson Jiang Hua said in a statement.

"The interview lasted 3 hours and 32 minutes. During the interview, a number of issues were addressed," she said without giving out any details.

The interview was the first time a scientist linked to Iraq's weapons programs has spoken to inspectors without Iraqi officials present. Hoping the scientists will reveal clandestine weapons programs, private interviews have been a top demand of the United States, but chief UN inspector Hans Blix would do so only with interviewee's willingness.

UN spokesman in Baghdad Hiro Ueki said before the interview that he would only confirm that "we had requested a private interview at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT)."

Witnesses said the scientist, biologist Sinan Abdul Hassan, left the Hayat hotel where the inspectors are staying late on Thursday.

Inspectors had interviewed a few scientists since they resumed inspections in Iraq on Nov. 27, 2002. The interviewees always insisted on the presence of an Iraqi reminder.

UN Confirms Iraqi Scientist's Private Interview with Inspectors

A senior United Nations official on Thursday confirmed that UN weapons inspectors had conducted the first private interview with an Iraqi biologist.

Jiang Hua, deputy spokeswoman of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said the interview, which lasted three and a half hours, took place at the Al-Hayat hotel where the inspectors are staying.

"During the interview, a number of issues were addressed," she said without elaborating.

The UN inspectors have asked for access to Iraqi scientists possible involved in the research and production of weapons of mass destruction. The scientists, however, previously insisted that Iraqi officials be present during these interviews.

The interview was first announced by Iraqi presidential adviser Amer al-Saadi at the end of a news conference in Baghdad. The adviser made a point-by-point rebuttal of US Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the UN Security Council on Wednesday alleging Iraq's defiance of the UN demand for disarmament.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2003)