IAEA: Samples from alleged Syria nuke site justify further probe 


October 28, 2008
Haaretz
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Diplomats say soil and air samples from an alleged Syrian nuclear site bombed last year by Israel provide enough evidence to justify a further probe. 

Preliminary results collected by the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and made public earlier this year were inconclusive, and initially did not yield evidence of nuclear activity. But diplomats told The Associated Press that final evaluation, completed a few days ago, convinced the agency to press on with its investigation 

The diplomats, accredited to the IAEA, demanded anonymity for divulging the information Tuesday. 

Syrian Ambassador Mohammed Badi Khattab - his country's chief IAEA delegate - said he was unaware the evaluation had been completed and would not comment until his country was told of the findings. Syria denies running a covert program. 

Last September, Israel Air Force jets bombed a facility believed to be a nuclear site built with North Korean help. Syria has denied the nuclear allegations as absolutely, totally, fundamentally ridiculous and untrue.