Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Pakistan nuclear case 'is closed'

BBC

Pakistan has announced an end to investigations surrounding the leaking of nuclear secrets by the disgraced nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan.

It says that the release of a key suspect linked to Dr Khan's network means that the inquiry into his operations has come to a close.

A former national hero, he has been under virtual house arrest since February 2004.

In 2004 he admitted leaking nuclear secrets to North Korea, Libya and Iran.

A military spokesman said that Dr Mohammed Farooq was released from custody a few days ago and had been told not to leave his residence in Islamabad.


In 2004 AQ Khan admitted to passing nuclear secrets


Dr Farooq worked at Pakistan's premier nuclear weapons facility, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), and was detained in December 2003 along with 10 others.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that inquiries into Dr Khan's proliferation network began more than two years ago.

She said the investigation into the sale of nuclear information and material to other countries had been "thorough".

Responding to questions, Ms Aslam said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and key countries including the US had been kept informed of the progress of the investigation during the entire process.

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