Region | Syria
US flayed for delay in sharing intelligence data
The head of the UN nuclear monitoring agency on Friday criticised the US for not giving his organisation intelligence information sooner.
- AP
- Published: 00:35 April 26, 2008
- Image Credit: EPA
- A composite picture of handout photographs released by DigitalGlobe on Thursday showing satellite imagery of a suspected nuclear facility (left) collected on August 5, 2007 and after being completely destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in September 2007
Vienna: The head of the UN nuclear monitoring agency on Friday criticised the US for not giving his organisation intelligence information sooner on what Washington says was a nuclear reactor in Syria being built secretly by North Korea.
Mohammad Al Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also chastised Israel for bombing the site seven months ago, in a statement whose strong language reflected anger at being kept out of the picture for so long.
The White House broke its silence about the issue on Thursday, just hours after top US legislators - members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee - were briefed on the alleged reactor.
US intelligence officials said evidence included dozens of photographs taken from ground level as well as footage of the interior of the building taken by spy satellites after the Israeli strike.
Al Baradei said the US allegations against Syria would be investigated with due vigour. Syria has denied the US accusations and accused Washington of involvement in the Israeli air attack.
"The Agency will treat this information with the seriousness it deserves and will investigate the veracity of the information," he said.
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