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Last update - 21:02 07/05/2008 IAEA chief hopes to shed light on alleged Syrian reactor soon By Reuters Tags: IAEA, Syria, nuclear reactor  BRUSSELS - The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday he hoped his agency would be able to shed light in the next few weeks on whether a Syrian facility bombed by Israel last September was an undeclared atomic reactor. The United States released intelligence last month that it said showed Syria built a reactor with North Korean help before Israeli warplanes destroyed it. Damascus has denied the accusations. Mohammed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said his agency was in contact with Syria to verify the U.S. intelligence and recalled Damascus's obligation to report any nuclear activities to the agency. Advertisement "I hope that in the next few weeks we will be able to shed some light on the nature of the facility that was destroyed," he told reporters after talks with EU officials in Brussels. "Syria has an obligation to notify the agency if they are, if they were, building any nuclear reactors," he said. Damascus has not granted UN inspectors access to the area despite several requests since September, diplomats say. The U.S. material included photos and other information the CIA said prove the facility's potential for nuclear weapons purposes. Syria has said the information was forged, comparing it with U.S. reports of mass destruction weapons hidden in Iraq, which were never found, after U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein. Damascus has instead accused Washington of involvement in the air attack by Israel, which is believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal. Syria has repeatedly sparred over the reactor reports with Western nations at a nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review meeting under way in Geneva, fending off accusations that it might have violated its NPT commitments. "We refuse to be given sermons on international obligations by a country that has violated all international standards," Syrian NPT envoy Maha Abdulrahim said, alluding to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and support of non-NPT member Israel. Syria has one declared nuclear facility, a research reactor, subject to regular UN inspections. The IAEA and others have criticized the United States for waiting until last month to share its intelligence, and analysts have raised questions over whether the U.S. material amounted to proof of any undeclared arms program. Diplomats close to the IAEA say it will be much harder to uncover evidence now than it would have been before the attack. Related articles: IAEA slams Israel for bombing alleged nuclear reactor in Syria IAEA: We hope to visit site of IAF strike on Syria Syria: Israeli nuclear weapons are sparking Mideast arms race Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nakba protest World Likud chief calls for cancellation of Nakba Day procession. Perfect match TA court sentences 'DNA Rapist' to 25 years in prison.   1.   Inspector Clouseau is on the case! 19:51  |  Michael 07/05/08   2.   What Light Will He Shed? 21:41  |  Robert 07/05/08   3.   Pathetic response, from pathetic man representing pathetic agency 23:31  |  common sense 07/05/08   4.   Too late to shed light, Israel Air Force already did IAEA`s job 23:35  |  Realist 07/05/08   5.   Why not build the reactor underground? 01:36  |  Wendy 08/05/08   6.   They will tell him... 01:44  |  Blogowitz 08/05/08   7.   Why not? 02:56  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   8.   Why inspect a warehouse? err I mean milk factory 02:59  |  Doc Holliday 08/05/08   9.   americas` spectacular movie making 03:37  |  VIPER 08/05/08   10.   So what does it matter? 03:41  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   11.   Unlike a reactor 03:46  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   12.   The missing first post 05:28  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   13.   Seeing and believing 05:34  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   14.   So why would liars lie? 05:36  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   15.   I trust Joseph Cirincione on this 09:01  |  Rowan 08/05/08   16.   Regarding the credibility of America 09:44  |  Natallie Durson 08/05/08   17.   Mark Lincoln eating more crow 09:48  |  Jacob Blues 08/05/08   18.   There is little doubt, Syria, with the assistance of North Korea 09:49  |  Roger 08/05/08   19.   I did not publish the photos Jacob 13:55  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/08   20.   IAEA would condemn this reactor if it wasn`t in a Moslem country 14:28  |  r 08/05/08   21.   #18 Then a simple question is in order, Roger 15:28  |  Johnboy 08/05/08

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