Thursday, Dec 29 2011 3PM 8°F 6PM 12°F 5-Day Forecast Iraq shells 'contained blister agent' Comments (0) A cache of 36 shells buried in the Iraqi desert have been uncovered, and preliminary tests by British experts showed they contained a liquid blister agent. The 120mm mortar shells are thought to be left over from the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran, which ended in 1988, said US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. The shells were found by Danish engineering troops and Icelandic de-miner