Vienna: The UN nuclear watchdog is to report Syria to the Security Council over its alleged covert nuclear programme. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to rebuke Syria on claims of an undeclared nuclear reactor.
The structure, which Syria has maintained was a non-nuclear military site, was destroyed by Israel in 2007.
The IAEA’s move comes as international pressure mounts on the UN Security Council to censure Syria over its lethal crackdown on protests.
European nations on Wednesday presented a separate draft resolution to the Council condemning Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.
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.
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.
“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,” said US Ambassador Glyn Davies.
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.”
Syria’s ambassador to the IAEA called the agency’s move “regrettable” but pledged that the country would honour its obligations.
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