U.N. set to visit alleged Syria nuke site

DAMASCUS, Syria, June 2 (UPI) -- U.N. nuclear inspectors say they will visit Syria this month to investigate Israeli claims the country was working to establish a nuclear reactor.

Israel has never commented publicly on the intended target of its September 2007 bombing run over the Syrian desert, but in April, U.S. officials informed the United Nations it believed the facility housed a nuclear reactor, CNN reported Monday, adding that the International Atomic Energy Agency's Mohamed ElBaradei is now set to visit the site June 22-24.

In April, ElBaradei told CNN his agency would look into the Syria matter and treat it "with the seriousness it deserves and will investigate the veracity of the information. Syria has an obligation under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA to report the planning and construction of any nuclear facility to the agency."

The Bush administration said it believes Syria obtained nuclear technology from North Korea and the desert site had not been set up for peaceful purposes.