Syria has agreed to allow United Nations inspectors access to a chemical plant that has been suspected of concealing a uranium enrichment operation. The Homs acid purification plant produces uranium concentrates, or yellow cake, as a byproduct, according to news reports. An International Atomic Energy Agency visit to the plant, located in the western part of the country, is slated for April 1, but is unlikely to end calls by the West for Syria to come clean about its nuclear ambitions. In 2007, Israeli jets bombed another site in the country that was suspected by the CIA to have been a nuclear reactor under construction. After the bombing, the Syrian government bulldozed the area, made no official comment, and claimed it had no nuclear ambitions.
- See a slide show of 6 vulnerable terrorist targets.
- See photos of protests in the Middle East.
- See a slide show of 15 post-Cold War uprisings.
Reader Comments