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UN nuclear watchdog refers Syria to Security Council | UN nuclear watchdog refers Syria to Security Council |
(40 minutes later) | |
The UN nuclear watchdog has decided to report Syria to the UN Security Council over its alleged covert nuclear programme, diplomats have said. | The UN nuclear watchdog has decided to report Syria to the UN Security Council over its alleged covert nuclear programme, diplomats have said. |
The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to rebuke the country over claims it had built an undeclared nuclear reactor. | The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to rebuke the country over claims it had built an undeclared nuclear reactor. |
The alleged structure, which Syria has maintained was a non-nuclear military site, was destroyed by Israel in 2007. | The alleged structure, which Syria has maintained was a non-nuclear military site, was destroyed by Israel in 2007. |
The IAEA move comes as Syrian troops crack down on weeks of protests. | The IAEA move comes as Syrian troops crack down on weeks of protests. |
Desert site | Desert site |
At the IAEA meeting at its headquarters in Vienna, 17 countries voted for and six against, including Russia and China. | At the IAEA meeting at its headquarters in Vienna, 17 countries voted for and six against, including Russia and China. |
Diplomats said that overall 11 countries of the 35-member board of governors abstained and one country was absent from the vote. | Diplomats said that overall 11 countries of the 35-member board of governors abstained and one country was absent from the vote. |
Israel bombed the desert site of the alleged reactor - near Deir Alzour in the country's remote north-east - in September 2007. | |
The IAEA began investigating the allegations in June 2008, but Syria has refused to co-operate and, with the exception of a one-off visit, has not allowed UN inspectors to Deir Alzour or related sites to verify the US claims. | |
Thursday's motion was proposed by the US and its Western allies who had asked the IAEA's governing body to find Syria in "non-compliance" with its international obligations. | Thursday's motion was proposed by the US and its Western allies who had asked the IAEA's governing body to find Syria in "non-compliance" with its international obligations. |
According to AFP news agency, US Ambassador Glyn Davies told the closed-door assembly: "Syria's apparent attempt at constructing a covert, undeclared plutonium production reactor, a reactor with no credible peaceful purpose, represents one of the most serious safeguards violations possible." | |
He said the intentions of the structure at Deir Alzour were clear and that a resolution was the only responsible course of action. | |
"The reactor there was built for the express purpose of producing plutonium for possible use in nuclear weapons." | |
'Regrettable' | |
Syria's ambassador to the IAEA called the agency's move "regrettable" but pledged that the country would honour its obligations. | |
"I think Syria has always been committed to its obligations and to its duties and I think we will continue to do so," Bassam Al-Sabbagh said after the meeting. | |
Syria is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which gives it the right to enrich its own fuel for civil nuclear power, under inspection from the IAEA. | Syria is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which gives it the right to enrich its own fuel for civil nuclear power, under inspection from the IAEA. |
But it has also signed a safeguards agreement with the IAEA under which it is obliged to notify the UN's nuclear watchdog of any plans to construct a new nuclear facility. | But it has also signed a safeguards agreement with the IAEA under which it is obliged to notify the UN's nuclear watchdog of any plans to construct a new nuclear facility. |
The last country the IAEA referred to the Security Council was Iran, in February 2006. | |
The Security Council has the power to impose sanctions, a move it has taken in the case of Iran no less than four times. | |
However, diplomats are not convinced that this will happen in Syria's case due to opposition from both Russia and China. | |
The diplomatic move at the IAEA came a day after Britain, France, Germany and Portugal proposed a draft resolution condemning Syria's crackdown on protesters to the Security Council, despite the risk of a Russian veto. |