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U.S. intelligence believes four nations other than the United States–Iraq, North Korea, Russia and France–probably possess hidden supplies of the smallpox virus, a U.S. official said.
Al Qaeda is also believed to have sought samples of smallpox for weaponization, but U.S. officials don’t believe the terror network is capable of mounting an attack with smallpox. Evidence recovered in Afghanistan pointed to Osama bin Laden’s interest in the virus, the U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
U.S. officials worry that Iraq and North Korea could develop potent biological weapons with their samples, which are believed to exist in small amounts. There is no evidence they are able to use the smallpox as a weapon.
