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Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP) Last update - 17:05 27/04/2008 Assad: Facility Israel bombed in September was not nuclear By Reuters Tags: Israel, Bashar Assad, Syria  DUBAI - The Syrian site Israel bombed in September was not part of a nuclear weapons program, but was a military facility under construction, President Bashar al-Assad said in remarks published on Sunday. Last week, Washington released intelligence alleging Syria had built a nuclear reactor with North Korean help before an Israel Air Force strike destroyed the facility on Sept. 6. "Is it logical? A nuclear site did not have protection with surface to air defenses? A nuclear site within the footprint of satellites in the middle of Syria in an open area in the desert?" Assad asked Qatar's al-Watan newspaper in an interview conducted before the U.S. accusations were made. Advertisement At that stage, he was commenting on media reports that said the target was a nuclear site. "The truth is that the raid was at a military site under construction," Assad said in the interview. "We are against mass destruction weapons for Israel, Iran or others." Assad said it was illogical for Syria to seek a nuclear bomb. "Where would we use it? On Israel it would kill the Palestinians. I do not see this as logical." Speaking after the U.S. accusations, Syria's ambassador to the United States dismissed as "a fantasy" the U.S. allegations. Assad said he did not know why Israel, officially at war with Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, bombed the site. "Why did they raid it, we do not know what data they had, but they know and they see through satellites; they have raided an incomplete site that did not have any personnel or anything. It was empty," he added. Asked about Syria's response, Assad said "retaliation does not mean a missile for a missile, a bomb for a bomb or a bullet for a bullet ... They [Israelis] understand what we mean. We do not say that we will retaliate, i.e. we will bomb." "You have to ask a different question; had Syria not been harming Israeli policy would Israel have carried out an operation of this sort? The truth is that we have the means to respond, but in our own way." "We understand Israel wants to provoke Syria and possibly to drag Syria into war while we do not seek war. We have been clear about this point. We have other means and we do not necessarily have to declare them." Assad refused to answer a question about reports that Syria was seeking to acquire Russian missiles. "If there was a door open, even if it was small, for peace you should not seek war but you should seek to defend yourself. Now are you prepared or not, psychologically we are always ready and constantly prepare ourselves, but in terms of results no one knows results until the battle itself." Watan ran part of the interview on Thursday, in which Assad said Damascus was ready to negotiate with Israel through Turkey to "find common ground" for peace, but any direct talks must wait until a new U.S. president is elected. Syria says it received word from Turkey that Israel was willing to give back the Golan Heights in full in return for peace with the Arab state - a key issue that led decade-long negotiations to falter in 2000. Related articles: Syria said demanding Israeli guarantee on Golan pullout Officials: U.S. vital to relaunching Syria talks Report: Assad says Syria preparing for possible war with Israel Assad says Syria turned down nuclear weapons offer in 2001 Bookmark to del.icio.us   Obscene gestures Alleged 'Heil Hitler' comment lands German lawyer Horst Mahler in court AMOS-3 video Israel's sophisticated new communications satellite launched into orbit.   1.   "Kill Palestinians" - What is that, a joke? 17:10  |  IW 27/04/08   2.   Assad`s lies - Tosefta told us it was just empty desert 19:05  |  17 27/04/08   3.   Assad the nice guy?, Absurd 19:16  |  charro 27/04/08   4.   puppet assad tell thst to your master terrorist iran 19:21  |  Victor_The_Egyptian 27/04/08   5.   I like Assad 19:46  |  Ian Robertson 27/04/08   6.   ya..right. Assad Sr. murdered 20K of his own countrymen 20:01  |  SLAVO 27/04/08   7.   Reactor or no reactor 20:06  |  Avrum 27/04/08   8.   1Wrong,,, Assad Sr. killed 18,000 in Hama 20:28  |  I 27/04/08   9.   Metamorphosis 20:42  |  Yonatan 27/04/08   10.   The site 20:51  |  Uzi 27/04/08   11.   The dorktator brings on the LOLz 21:09  |  Denise Thompson 27/04/08   12.   pupper Jordan and Egypt..here is your master America/Israel 21:52  |  Iran 27/04/08   13.   It was a NIKE factory, Not NUKE factory out there,boys! He He He 23:19  |  Davico 27/04/08   14.   Iran? a little faith please in you sisters and brothers 23:40  |  mohammed 27/04/08   15.   Looks like a duck... 00:48  |  Blogowitz 28/04/08   16.   Israel failed. 01:08  |  Maureen Ann 28/04/08   17.   Expect similar statements from a humbled Ahmadinajad 01:45  |  Denise Thompson 28/04/08   18.   Maureen Ann failed 02:05  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/04/08   19.   #16 Maureen Ann 02:26  |  * BEN JABO 28/04/08   20.   YAY!! Israel bombed a non Nuclear Facility! 10:36  |  Magnify 28/04/08   21.   Today`s News 13:50  |  * BEN JABO 28/04/08   22.   I doubt Syria would make nuclear weapons RIGHT ??? 18:34  |  M. S. 28/04/08   23.   If Syria was innocent & I were Assad 18:06  |  * BEN JABO 29/04/08

Read & React PM: Remorse for Gaza dead, but Hamas put victims at risk Responses: 147 Amos Harel: IDF acting as if no Hamas truce on horizon Responses: 94 Hitler made a splash with Jewish press in pre-state Palestine Responses: 65 Iran official warns of 'danger' of Barbie, Harry Potter toys Responses: 55 Chelsea owner Abramovich to build Britain's most expensive home Responses: 37 Rosner's Domain Is Israel finished? five questions Ziad Asali: deal with Hamas would hurt the moderates Poll: truce with Hamas, good or bad? Is suicide bombing rational? (WTR) More Headlines 17:11 MI chief: Terror groups planning major attacks on Israel's 60th 12:51 PM voices 'deep remorse' for Gaza deaths, but says Hamas put victims at risk 10:49 Qassam hits Sderot home; residents treated for shock 16:30 Hamas, other factions meet in Egypt to discuss cease-fire 16:51 UNIFIL denies Israeli charges it ignores Hezbollah activity 10:46 When the first draft of history fails the test of time 14:29 Russian-Jewish billionaire to build U.K.'s priciest mansion 16:47 Human rights groups call on Israel to stop limiting fuel to Gaza 15:46 Rishon Letzion man jailed for killing neighbor 15:17 Report: Inequality grows as top 1% earns same as bottom 25% 12:51 Criminal activity costs Israel billions every year 11:47 Israel: Amnesty program for Palestinian gunmen a success 11:10 Living on the outside Previous Editions Select Day 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr

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