Diplomats: IAEA says Syrian nuke info needs probe
Sources within UN nuclear watchdog agency say soil, air samples obtained from site of alleged nuclear site bombed by Israel “provide enough evidence to justify further probe”.
Diplomats say soil and air samples from an alleged Syrian nuclear site bombed last year by Israel provide enough evidence to justify a further probe.
Preliminary results collected by the International Atomic Energy Agency and made public earlier this year were inconclusive.
But diplomats told The Associated Press that final evaluation, completed a few days ago, convinced the agency to press on with its investigation. The diplomats, accredited to the IAEA, demanded anonymity for divulging the information Tuesday.
Syrian Ambassador Mohammed Badi Khattab – his country”s chief IAEA delegate – told the AP he was unaware the evaluation had been completed and would not comment until his country was told of the findings. Syria denies running a covert program.
On Monday IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said his agency was still unable to determine whether or not there were undeclared nuclear activities in Iran.
"I regret that we are still not in a position to achieve full clarity regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," he told the UN General Assembly.
Picture: The facility targeted in Syria Photo: AP