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Friday, September 26, 2008

IAEA chief: Report on Syrian nuclear plans needs more time

The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that it needs more time to prepare a report on Syria's nuclear plans as required by the United States.

"It is impossible for the International Atomic Energy Agency to issue the report on Syrian nuclear plans within a few weeks as required by the United States, said Mohammed ElBaradei, IAEA Director General, here on Thursday evening.

ElBaradei also noted that the IAEA's work should not be guided by political intentions, and that the IAEA will not issue the report before it fully understands the facts, according to media news here on Friday.

ElBaradei also showed dissatisfaction to the United States and Israel for only providing the IAEA with photos of the destroyed facility in Syria after the Israeli air force bombed it out.

He pointed out that the photos only show destructed buildings, but "It is very difficult for us to find out the facts after the destruction of this building."

Israeli air force bombed out a facility in the remote desert region of east Syria in Sept. 2007. The United States and Israel claimed this facility to be a secret nuclear reactor, but Syria said it is only a normal military facitlity. Therefore, the IAEA began probing the area and has required further explanation from Syria.

So far, the IAEA has found no radioactive material in the area of the destructed facility, but the IAEA would continue its investigation, ElBaradei said on the IAEA council meeting in Vienna on Sept. 22.

(Source: ChinaView)

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