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Diplomats Say Syria Stonewalling the IAEA

IN THIS ISSUE: Syria "stonewalling" the IAEA, Lavrov: U.S. could threaten Russian nuclear forces, Iran's "charm offensive," Tepco plans to flood Fukushima reactors, EDF solving building issues at nuclear site, VA nuclear plant's fuel storage casks moved by quake.

Published on September 1, 2011
 

Syria Reportedly Stonewalling the IAEA

George Jahn | Associated Press

Syria Assad

Syria has reneged on a promise to quickly cooperate with a U.N. probe of its nuclear activities, saying it won't be able to provide more information to challenge an assessment that it tried to build a plutonium-producing reactor until October, diplomats told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The delayed cooperation will likely add to concerns that Damascus was in the early stages of a secret program that could be harnessed to produce nuclear weapons. It also comes as Syrian leader Bashar Assad faces unprecedented international pressure over his months-long crackdown on anti-government protesters, possibly deflecting attention in Damascus from dealing with the nuclear issue.

The two diplomats, who asked for anonymity because their information is confidential, said U.N. nuclear chief Yukiya Amano will tell board member nations of the International Atomic Energy Agency that he has been unable to make progress in his Syria probe at their 35-nation meeting starting Sept 12. Full Article   



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