After being refused access at the gate by military police, three inspectors from the Berkshire CIA (Citizen's Inspection Agency) managed to enter Royal Air Force (RAF) Welford in Berkshire on August 24 to check whether weapons of mass destruction or indiscriminate use are stored at the base, and to check whether preparations are underway for any future attack on Iraq.

The inspectors climbed over the perimeter fence and inspected site buildings until stopped by police officers. They were all escorted off the base without charges. One woman subsequently reentered the base to hang a "No War" banner from the radio tower. She was again released without charges.

The Welford base, one of the largest ordinance stores in Europe, has had a U.S. military presence throughout the cold war until the present day. Inspector Peter Burt said, "Like Saddam Hussein, the U.S and U.K. governments have no intention of allowing international arms inspectors in to their bases to check what's on site. We decided to take matters into our own hands and have a look for ourselves.

"We will be visiting the Welford base and other military bases again over the months ahead to check whether preparations are underway for an attack on Iraq. If it appears that bases are being placed on a war footing, the U.S. and U.K. governments can expect a sustained campaign of nonviolent opposition from the peace movement."

For more information, contact Peter Burt at peter@risc.org.uk.