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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040505/wl_nm/nuclear_syria_dc_2

Source: Some in U.S. Think Syria Has Atomic Centrifuges

46 minutes ago Add World - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Louis Charbonneau

VIENNA (Reuters) - Some members of the Bush administration believe Syria has centrifuges that can purify uranium for use in bombs, though the intelligence community is divided on the issue, diplomats and experts told Reuters.

Last week, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton said Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist who sold nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea (news - web sites), had "several other" customers who may want the bomb. Western diplomats in Vienna said Bolton was clearly referring to Syria.

One atomic energy expert, who follows nuclear intelligence closely, said Bolton leads a faction in President Bush (news - web sites)'s administration that believes they have strong evidence Syria is operating uranium-enrichment centrifuges.

But a U.S. official, who asked not to be named, warned the intelligence on Syria had not dispelled all doubts.

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