Duma to demand UN inquiry into Ukraine biolabs

MOSCOW. March 10 (Interfax) - The State Duma foreign affairs committee has drafted a letter calling for a UN inquiry into biological laboratories in Ukraine.

"State Duma deputies are appealing to the United Nations and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to demand an immediate inquiry into the operation of biological labs in Ukraine," the draft statement, published in the Duma database on Thursday, said.

"If these facts are proved, this will mean the most egregious violation by the U.S. and Ukraine of the UN Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction," it said.

The Duma will set up its own inquiry commission and all international institutions are encouraged to cooperate, deputies said.

The Duma could support and consider the draft as early as March 11, the committee said.

It is proposed the request also be sent to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, government and Public Chamber; also the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and others.