!Syria Smuggles WMD to Sudan

While Syria smuggled evidence abroad, a meeting between Colin Powell and Syrian Ambassador promised Syria's cooperation.

WASHINGTON DC, April 8 /RPS News/ -- Middle East Newsline reported today that Syria is shipping part of its WMD weapons to Sudan using Syrian civilian airplanes ordered by the Defense Ministry of Syria. They said the Syrian material was sent to Khartoum as part of the trade relations between the two countries and processed and stored by Sudanese companies.

Western intelligence sources said the regime of Baschar Assad has been smuggling Scud C and Scud D extended-range missiles as well as WMD components to warehouses in Khartoum since at least January of 2004.

"There is widespread concern in the Syrian regime that Damascus will be the next to face heavy U.S. and international pressure to open its WMD facilities in the wake of the Libyan example," a senior intelligence source said. "The Syrians have decided that they want to take some of their assets out of the country.

So far, up to 10 civilian aircraft brought a range of missile and WMD-related material to Khartoum in January. A similar number of flights was reported in February and March and they included components of the Scud C, Scud D missiles and launchers as well as chemical weapons and precursors.

According to Middle East Newsline sources, the cargo was listed as medical equipment. They further said Syria has operated numerous civilian projects in Sudan, including agriculture, food and transportation. Much of the cargo was said to have been destined for southern Sudan.

Further to that and in an unusual protocol move, Syrian Ambassador to the US, Imad Mustapha, met with Colin Powell right after he presented his credentials to President George Bush in March. RPS believes that Mustapha promised Syria's full cooperation on WMD and the closure of Palestinian offices. But instead of opening the country to inspection, Syria is shipping the material to Sudan in anticipation of actually opening their country to precise and controlled inspections. This also explains the delay to enforce the Syria Accountability Act signed by President Bush on December 12, 2003.

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