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Syria Must 'Come Clean' on Nukes, US Says

Reactor destroyed by Israel was nearly complete, it says

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 24, 2008 8:31 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A covert nuclear reactor in Syria was only months away from producing uranium for weapons when Israel destroyed it in a bombing raid, US intelligence officials say. The officials briefed members of Congress on the Israeli raid in September, asserting that North Korea helped Syria build the site. The White House said Syria "must come clean" about its nuclear activities.

"The reactor would have been capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons, was not configured to produce electricity, and was ill suited for research," an intelligence document says. Syria has steadfastly denied the allegations, which come ahead of talks with North Korea to scrap its nuclear program.

These two satellite images made available by DigitalGlobe shows a suspected nuclear facility site in Syria before and after a Sept. 6, 2007 Israeli airstrike. intelligence officials will show members of Congress a videotape laying out the evidence that Syria was building the nuclear reactor pictured here with North Korean...
These two satellite images made available by DigitalGlobe shows a suspected nuclear facility site in Syria before and after a Sept. 6, 2007 Israeli airstrike. intelligence officials will show members...   (AP Photo/DigitalGlobe)
This undated image from video released Thursday April 24, 2008, by the CIA shows a covert nuclear reactor being built in Syria's desert, according to the narrated video.
This undated image from video released Thursday April 24, 2008, by the CIA shows a covert nuclear reactor being built in Syria's desert, according to the narrated video.   (AP Photo/CIA)
This undated image from video released Thursday April 24, 2008, by the Central Intelligence Agency shows an overhead view of a covert nuclear reactor in Syria.
This undated image from video released Thursday April 24, 2008, by the Central Intelligence Agency shows an overhead view of a covert nuclear reactor in Syria.   (AP Photo/CIA)
This undated image from video released Thursday April 24, 2008 by the Central Intelligence Agency shows a photo a covert nuclear reactor being built in Syria.
This undated image from video released Thursday April 24, 2008 by the Central Intelligence Agency shows a photo a covert nuclear reactor being built in Syria.   (AP Photo/CIA)
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N. Korea helped Syria before and after raid
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World • US

 
nuclear proliferation • Israel • North Korea • Syria • nuclear reactor • Kim Jong Il • Osirak nuclear reactor

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