Reuters AlertNet Lite - IAEA chief criticizes Israel over Syria raid

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

IAEA chief criticizes Israel over Syria raid

28 Oct 2007 19:21:29 GMT
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog criticized Israel on Sunday for attacking a suspicious Syrian site last month, saying the "bomb first and then ask questions later" undermined global atomic monitoring work.

In his first public comment on Israel's mysterious bombing run on what some analysts suggested was a nascent Syrian nuclear reactor, Mohamed ElBaradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, called on the Israelis and other countries to share information with IAEA.

"That to me is very distressful because we have a system," he told CNN in an interview. "If countries have information that the country is working on a nuclear-related program, they should come to us."

Israel has given no details on the target of the Sept. 6 air strike. Syria denied having such a facility.

Citing satellite images, a Washington-based atomic research institute said Israel appeared to have bombed a facility in northern Syria resembling a North Korean gas graphite nuclear reactor. The Syrians razed the site after the raid, the Institute for Science and International Security said.

ElBaradei told CNN's "Late Edition" the IAEA has not received information about any clandestine nuclear activities in Syria. He said the Vienna-based agency had the authority and capacity to investigate any such information.

"But to bomb first and then ask questions later, I think it undermines the system and it doesn't lead to any solution to any suspicion," said ElBaradei.

The IAEA chief said was he told by the Syrians the site hit by Israel was a military facility with "nothing to do with nuclear."

The IAEA was comparing commercial satellite photos of the site before and after the Sept. 6 raid, ElBaradei said.

"But in addition to us buying commercial photos, I would very much hope that countries will come forward if they have information so we'll do -- go through a due process," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that he apologized to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in London last week because Israel's air force may have flown over neighboring Turkey during the sortie.

Since 2003, the IAEA has been investigating Western suspicions of secret attempts by Iran, an ally of Syria, to build atom bombs. Iran says its nuclear energy program is intended solely to provide an alternative source of electricity.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Iran profile
· View map

• Israel profile
· View map

• Syria profile
· View map

• Turkey profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Squeezing the Life out of Bethlehem
Caritas Internationalis

• Brown government disappoints on first test of AIDS commitment
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• Publications Update: a new newsletter from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• New International Health Partnership must build on AIDS accountability
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• Medair receives enthusiastic evaluation from Swiss Solidarity (CdB), one of its major donors
Medair - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

• IAEA chief criticizes Israel over Syria raid

• Iran says documents show U.S. backing "terrorists"

• Israel cuts Gaza fuel in response to rocket fire

• Turkish army kills 20 Kurd militants in clashes

• IAEA chief decries threats, urges diplomacy on Iran

MORE >>

Last updated:Sun Oct 28 19:20:41 2007