Russia defends sacked weapons head

Bustani blamed 'one member state' for his dismissal after five years in charge

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russia has attacked the U.S.-led move by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to dismiss its head, Jose Bustani.

Bustani was dismissed Monday at a meeting in The Hague, Netherlands, after the United States successfully rallied members to remove him.

The OPCW voted 48-7 in favour of the U.S. proposal dismissing Bustani. A further 43 nations abstained.

"Russia spoke out against replacing Bustani, and considers that he did a great deal toward solving issues of prohibiting and destroying chemical weapons," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"Thanks to Bustani's actions, the OPCW transformed itself into an independent and authoritative international organ that became one of the most important mechanisms of control over weapons and disarmament."

EXTRA INFORMATION Profile: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Bustani had led the organisation since it was established in 1997 to oversee the destruction of the world's chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities.

Despite supporting his reappointment in May 2000, the U.S. State Department had recently accused Bustani of mismanagement and plunging the agency into crisis.

It accused Brazilian Bustani of threatening inspections in five unspecified countries "for political ends."

It also said Bustani had a "habit of refusing to consult" with member states, such as when he proposed anti-terrorism measures after the September 11 attacks without first approaching the U.S.

Bustani said he was being attacked for what he considered was his policy of treating all members equally.

"I have never subscribed to the theory that "equality" is proportional to the size of any one state's budgetary contribution," he said.

"Ironically enough, because I have stood in the way of decisions that would have established a double standard in the organisation, I am now accused of being biased.

"What is bias for some, is in reality my commitment to "equal treatment for all". I insist that the scope of access for our inspectors should be the same in all countries."