U.S. asks U.N. to search Syria for nukes

WASHINGTON, May 30 (UPI) -- U.S. officials asked U.N. inspectors to expand their search for secret nuclear plants in Syria, hinting Damascus may have a bigger program than once thought.

U.S. officials have identified at least three possible sites and forwarded the information to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is negotiating with Syria for permission to conduct inspections, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The Bush administration wants to know if the suspected sites supported the alleged Al Kibar reactor destroyed Sept. 6, 2007 by Israeli warplanes, officials said.

Syria denies having a nuclear weapons program and hasn't responded to IAEA inspection requests. U.S. officials would not describe the specific sites or say how they were identified.

CIA Director Michael Hayden told the Post the intelligence community's interest in Syria's nuclear aspirations deepened since the Israeli raid.

"Do not assume that Al Kibar exhausted our knowledge of Syrian efforts with regard to nuclear weapons," Hayden said. "I am very comfortable -- certainly with Al Kibar and what was there, and what the intent was. It was the highest confidence level. And nothing since the attack last September has changed our mind. In fact, events since the attack give us even greater confidence as to what it was."