Green Energy
BBC:
IAEA: Syria site bombed by Israel 'was likely nuclear'
A Syrian site bombed by Israeli jets in 2007 was "very likely" a nuclear reactor, the UN's atomic watchdog says.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating US claims that Syria was building a secret nuclear reactor with North Korean help.
The strongest IAEA report yet on Syria came after several years of blocked investigations, and is likely to increase the pressure on Damascus.
Israel bombed the remote desert site of the alleged reactor in September 2007.
Syria says the site - near Deir Alzour in the country's remote north-east - was an unused military facility under construction. It also denied having any nuclear links to North Korea, which has itself denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria.
But the confidential IAEA report, obtained by the BBC, says the bombed building was similar in type and size to a reactor and that samples taken from the site indicated a connection with nuclear activities.
The report's conclusions are likely to raise international pressure on Damascus, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna.
It opens the door for Western powers to push for Syria to be referred to the UN Security council, an action last taken against Iran in 2006. That step could come at the next meeting of the IAEA's board of governors in June.
Syria is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which gives it the right to enrich its own fuel for civil nuclear power, under inspection from the IAEA.
But it has also signed a safeguards agreement with the IAEA under which it is obliged to notify the UN's nuclear watchdog of any plans to construct a new nuclear facility.
- The Art Of Understatement: Syria Suspected Of Concealing Nuclear Activity
WASHINGTON - The International Atomic Energy Agency and Syria are walking a tightrope and appear to be headed toward a collision over two nuclear sites where undeclared uranium was recently found. The agency found traces of uranium at the...
- Obama's Ally Has Nukes
First thing Obama did as President-in-training (after surrendering to Russia) was to dispatch Robert Malley to Syria to discuss the future of America's Middle East policy. Today we find that Obama's Syrian allies, apparently, have already crossed...
- Damascus Car Bombing An Israeli Job After All?
The London Arabic daily Asharq Alawsat is reporting that - surprise! - Syria is continuing its pursuit of nuclear weapons, but that it has now adopted the Iranian model of having multiple sites spread out throughout the country. Please note the last part...
- Iaea's Man In Syria Murdered?
IAEA chief Mohamed El-Baradei revealed today that his agency's probe into Syria's nuclear activities has been delayed because its contact in Syria was murdered (Hat Tip: Memeorandum). "The reason that Syria has been late in providing additional...
- Iaea On Bombed Syrian 'nuke Site' : "three-man Inspection Team Did Not Find Obvious Traces Of Nuclear Material"
Where to begin? Maybe with a middle east as a 'Baradei'en ball of fire? N. Koreans cleaned out Al Kibar site months before IAEA showed up (Today's MENSA News headline!) LONDON -- The International Atomic Energy Agency...
Green Energy
BBC:
IAEA: Syria site bombed by Israel 'was likely nuclear'
A Syrian site bombed by Israeli jets in 2007 was "very likely" a nuclear reactor, the UN's atomic watchdog says.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating US claims that Syria was building a secret nuclear reactor with North Korean help.
The strongest IAEA report yet on Syria came after several years of blocked investigations, and is likely to increase the pressure on Damascus.
Israel bombed the remote desert site of the alleged reactor in September 2007.
Syria says the site - near Deir Alzour in the country's remote north-east - was an unused military facility under construction. It also denied having any nuclear links to North Korea, which has itself denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria.
But the confidential IAEA report, obtained by the BBC, says the bombed building was similar in type and size to a reactor and that samples taken from the site indicated a connection with nuclear activities.
The report's conclusions are likely to raise international pressure on Damascus, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna.
It opens the door for Western powers to push for Syria to be referred to the UN Security council, an action last taken against Iran in 2006. That step could come at the next meeting of the IAEA's board of governors in June.
Syria is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which gives it the right to enrich its own fuel for civil nuclear power, under inspection from the IAEA.
But it has also signed a safeguards agreement with the IAEA under which it is obliged to notify the UN's nuclear watchdog of any plans to construct a new nuclear facility.
- The Art Of Understatement: Syria Suspected Of Concealing Nuclear Activity
WASHINGTON - The International Atomic Energy Agency and Syria are walking a tightrope and appear to be headed toward a collision over two nuclear sites where undeclared uranium was recently found. The agency found traces of uranium at the...
- Obama's Ally Has Nukes
First thing Obama did as President-in-training (after surrendering to Russia) was to dispatch Robert Malley to Syria to discuss the future of America's Middle East policy. Today we find that Obama's Syrian allies, apparently, have already crossed...
- Damascus Car Bombing An Israeli Job After All?
The London Arabic daily Asharq Alawsat is reporting that - surprise! - Syria is continuing its pursuit of nuclear weapons, but that it has now adopted the Iranian model of having multiple sites spread out throughout the country. Please note the last part...
- Iaea's Man In Syria Murdered?
IAEA chief Mohamed El-Baradei revealed today that his agency's probe into Syria's nuclear activities has been delayed because its contact in Syria was murdered (Hat Tip: Memeorandum). "The reason that Syria has been late in providing additional...
- Iaea On Bombed Syrian 'nuke Site' : "three-man Inspection Team Did Not Find Obvious Traces Of Nuclear Material"
Where to begin? Maybe with a middle east as a 'Baradei'en ball of fire? N. Koreans cleaned out Al Kibar site months before IAEA showed up (Today's MENSA News headline!) LONDON -- The International Atomic Energy Agency...