Europe questions Spanish chemical sales to Venezuela

"The head of a European Parliament commission has asked for a probe into whether the Spanish government violated EU rules with its sale of defense equipment and other dual-use materials to Venezuela," the Washington Times reports.

"European officials and Spanish opposition leaders are particularly concerned about the sale to President Hugo Chavez's government of two dual-use chemicals -- sodium sulfite and hydrogen fluoride."

"Hydrogen fluoride has many innocent uses in the oil refining and petrochemical industries but also plays a key role in the production of sarin nerve gas and in uranium refinement.

"Spain also sold Venezuela various forms of "paramilitary or security materials," according to a forthcoming report from the country's Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce (MITC).

"The report, a copy of which was leaked to Europa Press, notes that the dual-use chemicals could be used 'in the fabrication of [biological and chemical] weapons of mass destruction,' including 'biological and radioactive materials and nerve agents for chemical warfare.'"