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Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme' Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme'
(20 minutes later)
The United States has accused North Korea of helping Syria build a nuclear reactor that "was not intended for peaceful purposes".The United States has accused North Korea of helping Syria build a nuclear reactor that "was not intended for peaceful purposes".
The site, said to be like one in North Korea, was bombed by Israel in 2007.The site, said to be like one in North Korea, was bombed by Israel in 2007.
Syria must "come clean" about its secret nuclear programme, the White House said in a statement after CIA officials briefed members of Congress.Syria must "come clean" about its secret nuclear programme, the White House said in a statement after CIA officials briefed members of Congress.
Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea.Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea.
The CIA says it has pictures proving that North Koreans were working inside a secret Syrian reactor, reports say. But the White House said the "cover-up" operation that Syria carried out after the Israeli airstrike reinforced the belief that the reactor "was not intended for peaceful activities".
Some of the videos and photographs shown to the politicians are expected to be made public later. "Until 6 September, 2007, the Syrian regime was building a covert nuclear reactor in its eastern desert capable of producing plutonium," the statement said.
"The Syrian regime must come clean before the world regarding its illicit nuclear activities."
The statement added that the US had long been "seriously concerned about North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and its proliferation activities".
"North Korea's clandestine nuclear co-operation with Syria is a dangerous manifestation of those activities," the statement said.
The statement said the US had passed the intelligence on to the International Atomic Energy Agency and would work to ensure North Korea would not engage in further proliferation activities.
The CIA briefings are reported to have shown pictures proving that North Koreans were working inside the secret site. Some of the videos and photographs shown to the politicians are expected to be made public later.
'Proliferation issue''Proliferation issue'
The images - said to have been obtained by Israel - showed striking similarities between the Syrian facility and the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, reports said. There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN Syria 'has some explaining to do'The images - said to have been obtained by Israel - showed striking similarities between the Syrian facility and the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, reports said. There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN Syria 'has some explaining to do'
However, the facility was not yet operational and there was no fuel for the reactor, officials said.However, the facility was not yet operational and there was no fuel for the reactor, officials said.
Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who attended the CIA briefing, said there was a "a serious proliferation issue, both for the Middle East and the countries that may be involved in Asia". Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who attended the CIA briefing, said the US needed "good, clear, verifiable information" from the countries involved before North Korea could be removed from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
The US needed "good, clear, verifiable information" from the countries involved before North Korea could be removed from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. North Korea had agreed to give up its nuclear weapons in return for removal from the blacklist and aid as part of a six-nation deal agreed between North Korea and US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia in February 2007.
North Korea agreed to give up its nuclear weapons in return for removal from the blacklist and aid as part of a six-nation deal agreed between North Korea and US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia in February 2007.
The US has accused Pyongyang of missing the deadline to make a full nuclear declaration as promised.The US has accused Pyongyang of missing the deadline to make a full nuclear declaration as promised.
Mr Hoekstra criticised the Bush administration for waiting eight months to brief the intelligence committee and warned that it could jeopardise any future agreement with North Korea.Mr Hoekstra criticised the Bush administration for waiting eight months to brief the intelligence committee and warned that it could jeopardise any future agreement with North Korea.
Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, denied the links.Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, denied the links.
"There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria. We deny these rumours," he said."There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria. We deny these rumours," he said.
North Korea has previously denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria.North Korea has previously denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria.
Landmark dealLandmark deal
The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the apparent strike on the reactor, deep inside Syria, was seen by many in Israel as a sign of their military prowess.The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the apparent strike on the reactor, deep inside Syria, was seen by many in Israel as a sign of their military prowess.
But she says Israeli defence officials now have expressed concern over the revelation of classified data in the US.But she says Israeli defence officials now have expressed concern over the revelation of classified data in the US.
The CIA briefing coincides with the end of a two-day meeting between US and North Korean officials on Pyongyang's nuclear programme, which both sides say have gone well - fuelling speculation that a deal may be imminent.The CIA briefing coincides with the end of a two-day meeting between US and North Korean officials on Pyongyang's nuclear programme, which both sides say have gone well - fuelling speculation that a deal may be imminent.
In the landmark deal reached in 2007, Pyongyang agreed to close its main reactor and divulge the full extent of its nuclear programme by December.In the landmark deal reached in 2007, Pyongyang agreed to close its main reactor and divulge the full extent of its nuclear programme by December.
While it is taking steps to close its Yongbyon reactor, it has yet to produce a declaration of nuclear activities to the international community's satisfaction.While it is taking steps to close its Yongbyon reactor, it has yet to produce a declaration of nuclear activities to the international community's satisfaction.