IAEA Says No Progress with Syria over Suspect Nuclear Site

The U.N. atomic watchdog said Thursday a visit by inspectors to Syria last month made "no progress" in clarifying the use of a suspected covert nuclear reactor allegedly bombed by Israel in 2007.

"Unfortunately, no progress was made in meetings with the Syrian authorities on obtaining the full access which we have requested," International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano said.

He said the IAEA failed to obtain "full access" to "locations which the Agency believes are functionally related to the Deir al-Zour site," Amano said at the start of a two-day meeting of the body's board in Vienna.

The IAEA reported Damascus to the U.N. Security Council earlier this year after concluding the desert site was "very likely" a nuclear reactor which should have been declared to the IAEA by Syria.

The Syrian government, currently dealing with mass unrest, has denied any nuclear activities were carried out there.

Damascus has said it will produce more data and appears to be merely playing for time, a Western diplomat said.

"I urge Syria to cooperate fully with the Agency in connection with unresolved issues related to the Deir al-Zour site and other locations," Amano said, according to a text of his speech made at http://www.iaea.org/press/.