Syrian nuclear probe inconclusive

Chief UN nuclear inspector Olli Heinonen led a team of experts to a suspected nuclear site in Syria to carry out tests and inspections of the area. Upon returning to Vienna yesterday following a four-day trip to Syria, Heinonen said that the team took samples at the al-Kibar site and that the inquiry was off to a good start with satisfactory cooperation between the inspection team and Syria. Heinonen noted that it was too early to determine whether or not the al-Kibar site, bombed by Israel last September, was developing nuclear materials. Heinonen, who is the deputy director-general in charge of non-proliferation for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), added that further checks would be necessary and that discussions with Syrian officials will continue.

Meanwhile, Syrian vice-president Farouk al-Sharaa said that Damascus allowed the UN inspection to the Al-Kibar site in order to prove that US allegations of a Syrian nuclear program were false. Al-Sharaa said that the IAEA inspectors would not be allowed to probe beyond the Al-Kibar site despite their request to visit three other locations.

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