The U.S. wants to smear all the Arabs through accusations against Arab countries that they are developing weapons of mass destruction: Syria

TRIPOLI, January 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Libya and Syria denied U.S. allegations that the two countries, as well as Sudan, were trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Libya denied Wednesday, January 8, claims by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency that it was trying to acquire or expand weapons of mass destruction, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

“These are allegations the CIA habitually puts out to serve interests hostile to the peoples” of other states, said foreign ministry spokesman Hassouna Al-Shawesh, pointing out that Libya is a signatory of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The U.S. intelligence agency made its claims in a report submitted to Congress last month that was made public Tuesday, January 7 at a time the Americans are preparing a war against Iraq for alleged weapons of mass destruction, an accusation that the U.N. inspectors in Iraq didn’t find any evidence to support.

It claimed Libya continues to develop its nuclear infrastructure but the CIA report didn’t present any evidence in support for its claims and accusations.

“In 2001, Libya and other countries reportedly used their secret services to try to obtain technical information on the development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons,” the CIA said.

It claimed Tripoli tried to negotiate with Russia a deal to purchase a nuclear reactor and secure Moscow’s assistance in developing the Tajura Nuclear Research Center.

“Such civil-sector work could present Libya with opportunities to pursue technologies that also would be suitable for military purposes,” the CIA said.

Following the suspension of U.N. sanctions against it, Libya quickly moved to establish contacts with chemical companies and research institutions, primarily in western Europe, in order to secure technologies and raw materials for its suspected chemical weapons (CW) program, the agency said.

“Tripoli still appears to be working toward an offensive CW capability and eventually indigenous production,” the report stated. “Evidence suggests that Libya also is seeking to acquire the capability to develop and produce BW (biological weapons) agents.”

Syria Rejects U.S. Accusations

Syria’s state-run media roundly rejected Thursday, January 9, accusations by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency that it was trying to develop a chemical and biological weapons arsenal.

“The accusations are totally unfounded. The U.S. agencies involved are fabricating stories, drawing the consequences and then warning against eventual dangers,” the official Tishrin newspaper said.

“The American administration wants to exaggerate matters concerning the Middle East to show that the security of the United States is really in danger,” it added.

“It is seeking to smear all the Arabs through its campaign against Iraq and through accusations against Arab countries that they are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.”

The CIA claimed in a report made public Tuesday that Libya, Syria and possibly Sudan are quietly trying to acquire or expand secret weapons arsenals.

The report, submitted to Congress last month, said Syria was trying to acquire precursor materials and know-how for a chemical weapons program, and that it was “highly probable” it was developing biological weapons.

Tishrin added that the Arab states fingered by the CIA “only seek to have defensive weapons, and it is out of the question to threaten American security.”