Dangerous Iraq chemicals found stored at UN in NY

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 30 (Reuters) United Nations officials found vials of dangerous chemicals, which had been removed from Iraq a decade ago, in a UN building in New York, but UN officials said today there was no danger.

The FBI was called in to help remove the substances.

The material was phosgene, a chemical warfare agent, UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe told a news conference.

The inspections unit said in a statement that the chemicals had been found last Friday.

The Iraqi weapons inspectors came across the material as they were closing their offices, which are housed in a building near the UN headquarters in Manhattan, said Ewen Buchanan, a spokesman for the inspectors.

Phosgene was used extensively during World War I as a choking agent, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.

REUTERS MS RAI2316