CIA briefing delays Barak's U.S. visit

JERUSALEM, April 27 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak canceled a U.S. trip after the CIA disclosed to Congress that Israel destroyed a suspected Syrian nuclear site, sources say.

Sources said Barak decided to delay his scheduled Washington visit after CIA officials briefed Congress on the 2007 Israeli airstrike on the Syrian facility, Haaretz reported Sunday. The decision reportedly was aimed at avoiding any link between Barak's visit and the disclosure of the U.S. intelligence information.

Barak also wanted to remain in Israel for the time being to remain close to ongoing cease-fire negotiations with Hamas, the sources said. Barak was to have arrived in Washington Sunday.

Israeli military officials said security along Israel's border with Syria would remain tense in the near future, despite claims by government officials that the CIA briefing did not cause increased regional tensions.

International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei criticized Israel Saturday for attacking the Syrian site since the assault "destroyed evidence" that it was a nuclear facility.

ElBaradei also said he would be contacting Syria to gather more information regarding the alleged nuclear site shown in intelligence photographs, Haaretz said.