Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Holiday Gift Guide
Gift ideas & reviews for this holiday season
Start Browsing
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
You Witness
The Great Debate
Blogs
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
You Witness News
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Syria rejects more IAEA visits for nuclear probe
Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:38pm EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Mark Heinrich
VIENNA (Reuters) - Syria said on Friday a U.N. watchdog report failed to show anything suggesting a Syrian complex bombed by Israel was a covert nuclear reactor and no further inspector visits would be permitted.
Syrian nuclear energy chief Ibrahim Othman challenged the International Atomic Energy Agency report saying the building's layout bore similarities to a reactor and U.N. inspectors had found striking amounts of uranium particles in the desert area.
The findings, based on satellite pictures and soil and water samples, were not enough to conclude a reactor was once there, the IAEA said, but they warranted further IAEA checks at the site and three others as well as full Syrian transparency.
Othman, speaking after an IAEA briefing to its 35-nation governing board about the report, repeated Syria's stance that Israel's target was only a conventional military building.
"What they are now saying about uranium particles -- collecting three particles from the desert is not enough to say there was a reactor there at all," he told reporters, speaking English in Syria's first public reaction to Wednesday's report.
"If every square or rectangular or domed building was a reactor, then there are a lot of reactors in the world.
"Now, I think to follow up there should be a good reason to say there is something there. In our opinion this file should be closed," said Othman, head of Syria's atomic energy commission. Syria has one declared atomic facility, an old research reactor.
He said Syria would stick by a written accord with the IAEA that allowed for only one visit to the Al-Kibar site -- which took place last June -- and "we will not allow another visit."
The IAEA report said Syria had not heeded requests for documentation about the function of the building destroyed in an Israeli air raid last year or repeated requests to visit three other military sites believed to be linked to Al-Kibar.
REPORT CONVINCING, SAYS U.S.
"The report reinforces the assessment of my government that Syria was secretly building a nuclear reactor in its eastern desert and thereby violating its IAEA (non-proliferation) safeguards obligations," Gregory Schulte, U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, said in a statement earlier on Friday.
Pressed on whether Syria was slamming the door to further contact with the IAEA over the probe, Othman said, "No, no. If the information required belongs to the accusation, then we will supply it," suggesting there could be more discussions.
But he poured cold water on the prospect of inspections of more sites he said were conventional military installations Syria could not afford to expose given its official state of war with Israel, which has an undeclared nuclear arsenal.
"I'm pointing out these are military positions, buildings, activities, and remind you all we are still in a war in the Middle East," Othman said.
He said Syria would continue cooperation with the IAEA but only under its basic safeguards agreement with the agency, which provides for inspections only at declared atomic sites. Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Thousands protest in Iraq against U.S. troops pact
Also on Reuters
IT executives say they learned the lessons of dot.com crash
Slideshow
A look at the life of the wealthy and their luxuries
Officials say al Qaeda a threat, but not imminently
Editor's Choice
Pictures
Video
Articles
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Cameras
Oddly Enough
Banking blues
Top News: Obama pelted with advice on Iran
Business: Ethanol slump blindsides corn growers
Technology: Tech looks to raise bets on healthcare
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Recommended
UPDATE 2-US clout down, risks up by 2025 -intel outlook
Government warns of "catastrophic" U.S. quake
Florida teen kills self in front of live webcam
Citigroup shares drop; CEO plans to keep Smith Barney | Video
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz delivers baby boy
Bush signs law extending unemployment insurance
GM to return two leased jets amid criticism
Obama pledges fresh view on U.S. role in world
Geithner rallies stocks but Citi still ailing
UPDATE 3-Verizon staff had unauthorized access to Obama's cell
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Paulson on defense
Macau's luck on the wane
Auto bailout still on hold
Kylie opens 25k a night hotel
And Finally Bottoms Up!
APEC leaders look beyond trade
New hybrid camera bridges the gap
Walking house takes a stroll
Wall Street hits 6-year low
Georgia, Russia stand accused
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
Reinforcing what? The EU's role in Eastern Congo
The EU seems to lack the political will for military invention in eastern Congo. But it might still be a force for good if it can muster diplomatic unity and take on some practical short-term commitments in support of UN forces. Commentary
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.