Western spies: Syria storing WMD in Sudan

LONDON, April 9 (UPI) -- Western spy agencies say Damascus is smuggling missile and weapons of mass destruction components to Sudan so they won't be detected anywhere in Syria.

Since January 2004, Syrian President Bashar Assad has ordered shipments of Scud C and Scud D extended-range missiles as well as weapons components to be flown to warehouses in Khartoum, Middle East News Line reported Friday.

Intelligence sources said the Syrian shipments were placed on civilian airliners but authorized and directed by the Defense Ministry.

"There is widespread concern in the Syrian regime that Damascus will be the next to face heavy U.S. and international pressure to open its WMD facilities in the wake of the Libyan example," a senior intelligence source said.

"The Syrians have decided that they want to take some of their assets out of the country."

The government of Sudan President Omar Bashir was not informed of the Syrian shipments, which went to Khartoum as part of increased trade relations between the two countries, MENL said.