IAEA wants to send team to Iraq to probe reported looting of nuclear facilities

Voicing concern over reports that there had been looting at Iraq's nuclear facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has asked the United States to confirm the situation and allow an IAEA team to investigate.

IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei has not yet received a response to the letter in which he requested that the United States allow in the investigative mission to find out what the state of Iraq's nuclear facilities are.

Last month Mr. ElBaradei wrote to the US Government, asking it to ensure the security and safety of all nuclear material in Iraq, which has been under IAEA seal since 1991. He indicated that until IAEA inspectors returned, the United States had responsibility for maintaining security at Iraq's nuclear storage facilities.