Arabic Press - Nuclear related 171007

IAEA asks Syria about N-reactor reports

Published: October 15, 2007, 18:45

Vienna: The UN nuclear watchdog did not know about any undeclared atomic plant in Syria and has asked Damascus about information that such a site was targeted by an Israeli air strike, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

Citing unidentified US and foreign officials with access to intelligence reports, the New York Times said on Sunday the nuclear reactor was partially built and apparently modeled on one in North Korea.

Israel confirmed earlier this month that it had carried out a September 6 air strike on Syria but has not described the target. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad said the target was an unused military building.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency is in contact with the Syrian authorities to verify the authenticity of these reports," said IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming.

"The IAEA has no information about any undeclared nuclear facility in Syria and no information about recent reports," she said in a statement issued from the IAEA's Vienna headquarters.

"We would obviously investigate any relevant information coming our way. The IAEA Secretariat expects any country having information about nuclear-related activities in another country to provide that information to the IAEA."

US officials have linked the raid to apparent Israeli suspicions of secret nuclear cooperation between Syria and North Korea. They said the site in question was identified earlier this year in satellite photographs.

Both Syria and North Korea denied any nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Gulf News