Egypt: Uranium traces do not indicate nuclear activity
Day after UN nuclear watchdog reveals report claiming uranium traces found in Egypt, head of Egypt's atomic energy agency says traces do not indicate nuclear activity
The Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority chief, Dr. Mohamed al-Olali said on Thursday that the traces of uranium found in his country do not indicate any Egyptian nuclear activity.
In an interview to the Arabic-language BBC radio, the chief added that Egypt was operating under full transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency. "The IAEA knows this full well," he added.
According to the British network, the Egyptian authorities claimed that the uranium traces originated in trucks carrying the residue of radioactive materials for medical purposes.
The UN nuclear watchdog agency said Wednesday its inspectors have found traces of weapons-grade uranium in Egypt. A restricted report from the International Atomic Energy Agency said the particles were detected last year and in 2007, and remain under investigation.
The report also said the highly enriched uranium particles were found alongside traces of low-enriched uranium particles. Both were detected at the Inshas site, northeast of Cairo, where Egypt's two small research reactors are located.
On Wednesday Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit conveyed the concerns this week when US envoy Dennis Ross, who is dealing with Iran, visited Cairo.
"Iran's behavior in the region is negative in many aspects and does not help in advancing security, stability and peace," he told Ross.
