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How many times have the west used therm "Watchdog" to describe ElBaradei , their watchdog, their dog !

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Pakistan rejects UN nuclear role

Pakistan rejects UN nuclear role
Pakistan will not allow the UN to inspect its nuclear programme, President Pervez Musharraf has said.
Islamabad will co-operate with the UN atomic agency, the IAEA, but will not hand over any documents, he said.

He was speaking after pardoning Abdul Qadeer Khan - the top scientist who admitted leaking nuclear weapons secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei has said Mr Khan's revelations are only the "tip of the iceberg" of illegal trafficking.


In Washington, the director of the CIA, George Tenet, said that the exposure of Pakistan's leading nuclear scientist followed a series of daring operations by American and British spies over several years.

Mr Tenet said Mr Khan had been guilty of nuclear profiteering on four continents.

And he said the revelation of his activities would put back the nuclear ambitions of some countries for years.

No roll-back

Mr Khan was "not working alone", Mr ElBaradei said.


STREET REACTION
The military is definitely involved. One can't clap with one hand
Syed Kosar Ahmed, Peshawar

Later, an IAEA spokeswoman told the BBC urgent work was needed to cut off the so-called "end-users" of proliferated weapons information.

The Pakistani president said "if the IAEA wanted to come to Pakistan and discuss the results of the Pakistani investigation, by all means, we are open".

But no inspections would be welcome, he said.

"This is a sovereign country, no document, no independent investigation, and we will not allow any UN supervision," he said.

He said Pakistan would not give up its nuclear capability.

"This country will never roll back its nuclear assets and its missile programme. This can never be done, this is my promise."

And he could not admit his country was guilty of proliferation of nuclear technology - as there would have been measures like sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.

Pardon

The nuclear scientist, a national hero, made his public confession on Wednesday after meeting General Musharraf.

Mr Khan told the nation he had acted without authorisation and begged forgiveness.



Correspondents say there was huge public opposition to putting Mr Khan on trial.
They say pardoning him avoids the potential embarrassment that could result from a public prosecution - even though it could spark allegations of a cover-up.

The BBC's Jim Fish says experts are deeply sceptical that Mr Khan's alleged proliferation network could have spread so far without the complicity of some in the government.

Raza Rabbani, a former government minister and acting secretary-general of Benazir Bhutto's opposition Pakistan People's Party, demanded more information about Mr Khan's activities.

"That is why the opposition in Pakistan and particularly the People's Party has been demanding that there be a parliamentary inquiry into this whole episode."

But Mr Musharraf said no independent inquiry would be allowed.

Pakistan began an inquiry into possible illegal transfers late last year after the UN passed on information it had gathered about Iran and Libya's nuclear programmes.

More than 15 people from the nuclear enrichment facility that Mr Khan used to run, Khan Research Laboratories, are still being questioned in the nuclear transfers investigation.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/3462907.stm

Published: 2004/02/05 17:18:46 GMT