UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei complained Thursday that his agency had made "no progress" in its investigation into alleged illicit nuclear activities in Syria.
"Essentially no progress has been made since my last report in clarifying the outstanding issues" with regard to Syria, ElBaradei told the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors.
The IAEA is investigating allegations that Syria had been building a covert nuclear reactor at a remote desert site called Dair Alzour until it was bombed by Israel in September 2007.
Inspectors have found unexplained traces of uranium at the site, as well as at a nuclear research reactor in Damascus.
In a restricted report on Syria circulated to board members earlier this month, ElBaradei said the IAEA had doubts about Syria's explanation as to how traces of uranium got there.
"Syria has not provided the cooperation necessary to permit the agency to determine the origin of the antropogenic natural uranium particles found in samples taken at the Dair Alzour site," ElBaradei said Thursday.
"Nor has Syria provided information or access that would allow the agency to confirm Syria's statements regarding the non-nuclear nature of the destroyed building on that site."
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