A US envoy today suggested time was running out for Syria to cooperate with a UN atomic agency probe of alleged secret nuclear activities before the agency invokes its seldom-used authority to call for a special inspection,a possible prelude to UN Security Council involvement. Rising to Syria's defense,a senior Iranian diplomat accused the organisation,the International Atomic Energy Agency,of harassing Syria by leveling false allegations in collusion with Israel and its allies. The two officials spoke as the 35-nation atomic agency board meeting turned its attention from the agency's probe of Iran's nuclear activities to suspicions that Syria has a hidden nuclear programme. Israeli warplanes bombed what the US says was a nearly finished nuclear reactor three years ago,launching an agency investigation. After an initial visit to the site,agency inspectors have not been allowed to return,or visit other suspect sites,and the agency's chief,Yukiya Amano,says Syria's lack of cooperation could mean that information sought by the agency could be lost with the passage of time. Iranian envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh told the board that Israel's attack is the real issue and Syria has become targeted by a "vicious circle of endless questions and allegations." Syria denies hiding nuclear activities.
