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IAEA Deplores Israeli Attack on Syria |
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Saturday, 26 April 2008 |
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday criticised the U.S.
for not giving the nuclear watchdog information on what Washington said was a
nuclear reactor in Syria being built secretly by North Korea.
IAEA Director-General Mohamed El Baradei also criticised Israel for bombing the
site seven months ago, in a statement that reflected his anger at being kept out
of the picture for so long. The White House broke its silence about the issue on
Thursday, hours after members of the House of Representatives Intelligence
Committee were briefed on the alleged reactor. Intelligence officials said
evidence included dozens of photographs taken from ground level and footage of
the interior of the building taken by spy satellites after the Israeli strike.
The IAEA is currently investigating allegations that Iran tried to make nuclear
weapons, and it was using not only its own research, but intelligence provided
by the U.S. and other members of the 35-nation IAEA Board. “The Director-General
deplores the fact that this information was not provided to the agency in a
timely manner, in accordance with the agency’s responsibilities under the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to enable it to verify its veracity and
establish the facts,” said an IAEA statement.
“The Director-General views the unilateral use of force by Israel as undermining
the due process of verification, which is at the heart of the non-proliferation
regime.” Mr. Baradei was briefed on Thursday by John Rood, U.S. Undersecretary
of State for Arms Control. A senior U.S. official said a U.S. intelligence team
was in Vienna to brief IAEA representatives.
A senior diplomat linked to the IAEA said Mr. Baradei had already let his
displeasure known to Mr. Rood during the latter’s phone call over the delay
between the time the information became available to the U.S. and when Mr.
Baradei was informed of it. U.S. Congressional Intelligence Committee members
also expressed anger on Thursday over the seven-month time lapse before their
committee was briefed. The alleged reactor was within weeks or months of being
functional when Israeli jets destroyed it, said a top U.S. official. Syria on
Thursday denied the allegations.
Source: AP
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