Syria urges UN nuke agency to asses strike risk

Syria has joined Russia in asking the UN atomic agency to assess the hazards posed by a possible military strike on its nuclear facilities.

The comments today by Bassam Al-Sabbagh, Syria's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, follow a similar request by Moscow in a meeting yesterday of the IAEA's 35-nation board.

Russia is Syria's strongest ally in efforts to prevent US air strikes on Syrian government targets in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of Syrians.

Al-Sabbagh expressed "deep concern" about the nuclear risks of an attack. He told reporters Syria feels the agency has the authority to do an assessment.
 

The US, however, says such a report is outside the IAEA's mandate.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano says he needs time to consider the request.