> ## US tried to develop mood-altering weapons, science panel admits

> Agence France-Presse
> Washington, November 05

> Nov/05/2002

> The United States made an attempt to develop mood-altering weapons similar to the gas used in a recent hostage crisis in Moscow but abandoned the programme because it could not be reconciled with international law, a US government-sponsored scientific panel acknowledged.

> The disclosure is contained in a 250-page report issued Monday by the National Research Council, which urged the Pentagon to take another look at non-lethal weapons now that US forces face a greater chance of getting involved in urban combat.

> Research into fentanyl-based chemicals known as "calmatives" was sponsored by the Edgewood Chemical and Biological Command and conducted at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland 10 to 15 years ago, according to the document.

> The council described the program as "significant" but stopped short of revealing details because they remain classified.

> However, possible use of calmatives was discussed on a number of occasions at the office of the secretary of defence and by the Joint Staff, which has eventually concluded that in their current form, these agents would be illegal under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). HindustanTimes.com