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 07 September 2008 04:08 BST

Two Iraqis dead after poisoning

Sunday, 10 Feb 2008 14:27
Another portion of cake was taken home by chief administrator of the club, Sattar Ibrahim.
Two Iraqi children have died after eating cakes laced with the poison thallium.

Five other Iraqis are critically ill after eating cake delivered to a military football club in Baghdad.

The UK government flew antidote medicine to the Middle East yesterday, believed to be Prussian Blue, after a request by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The poison victims are being treated at a hospital in Jordan's capital Amman, as the antidotes were not available in Iraq. Seven people have been discharged after treatment.

Two of the poison victims are the secretary of the Iraqi air force club and his daughter.

Two cakes laced with thallium were delivered to the Air Force football club on February 2nd by a sports coach who had left on bad terms and then recently returned.

Samir Kadham, president of the team, said: "The general secretary of the team Mohammed Rasool took some of the cake home and he and his family ate it."

An investigation has been launched in Baghdad into the poisoning.

WHO spokesperson Omar Makki told the AFP news agency: "The WHO has sent samples and test to a laboratory in Britain and the two sides have been coordinating on the issue.

"We have asked the WHO and other organisations to study the case and provide the necessary assistance," he said without elaborating.

Thallium is a lethal poison which was used by Saddam Hussein's government against its opponents. The poison is tasteless, easy to administer and causes a lingering and painful death.End of story


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