Diplomats: Syria Passes 1st Test Of Nuclear Probe
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — Diplomats say partial results of samples from a Syrian site bombed by Israel show nothing to back up U.S. assertions that the target was a secret nuclear reactor.
The diplomats caution that the results from the International Atomic Energy Agency probe are preliminary. They say results of more detailed environmental tests are still outstanding.
Still, several have told the AP that agency officials do not expect those tests to strongly contradict the first results.
The three diplomats spoke to The AP on Saturday. They demanded anonymity because their information was confidential.
Because the building was not yet finished, it would not have contained nuclear material even if it had been planned as a reactor. Experts have been looking for other material linked to such a facility.
