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U.N.: Libya Nuke Suppliers Spanned Globe
Suppliers for Libya's nuclear weapons program stretched over three continents, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said in an internal report Friday. Diplomats identified the former Soviet Union and South Africa as among them. Traces of highly enriched uranium were found at some Libyan sites, according to the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency made available to The Associated Press. But it suggested the uranium entered the country on equipment purchased abroad. The report did not name the countries involved in supplying Libya. However, diplomats close to the agency said that the report indicated the former Soviet Union, South Africa, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia supported or served as bases for individuals selling nuclear components or know-how to Libya. Other diplomats had earlier named North Korea, as well as individuals from Pakistan, UAE member Dubai and Malaysia as part of the black market chain selling nuclear secrets to rogue nations. One of the diplomats said Moscow had not been previously linked to Libyan efforts to acquire a weapons program.The report said Libya had been cooperative since going public about its weapons programs in December and pledging to scrap them. But it said more inspections were needed of its efforts to enrich uranium — one way to make nuclear weapons. Its program included purchases of hundreds of centrifuges and orders for 10,000 more. In their efforts, the Libyans bought drawings of a nuclear warhead that diplomats identified as likely originating in China but sold by Pakistan. The illicit nuclear network headed by Pakistan's Abdul Qadeer Khan remains the focal point of investigations by the Vienna-based IAEA as it tries to trace the development of shipments to Libya, Iran, North Korea and possibly other nations trying to acquire illegal nuclear technology. North Korea was drawn deeper into the suppliers' web last week by diplomats who said it appeared to be the source of nearly two tons of a uranium compound that Libya handed over to Americans in January as part of its decision to get rid of weapons of mass destruction. The diplomats said the "foreign counterparts ... from a nuclear weapon state" mentioned by the report as working with Libyan scientists between 1983 and 1986 referred to Soviet experts. The Soviets were also the partners in a preliminary contract signed for a uranium conversion plant that the report noted was apparently never delivered, said the diplomat. Posted by: Fred 2004-05-29 |
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