Posted on 12/26/2002 3:18:26 PM PST by knighthawk
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Iraq sought to buy uranium from Niger in the 1980s, but the desert West African nation rebuffed the request, Niger authorities said in response to U.S. allegations.
Niger's announcement follows U.S. charges last week that Iraq under Saddam Hussein had tried to buy uranium from Niger.
British intelligence has also leveled accusations that Saddam's weapons programs had sought "significant" amounts of uranium from Africa, but the U.S. State Department on Dec. 20 became the first to specify an African country.
Speaking on state TV and radio this week, Niger Prime Minister Hama Hamadou confirmed "In the 1980s, Iraq had wanted to buy uranium from Niger."
However, then-President Seyni Kountche "did not give a favorable reply to this request," Hamadou said.
Niger, a landlocked largely Muslim nation, is the world's third-largest producer of mined uranium. Uranium is the country's leading export.
Asked if Niger couldn't sell the ore to whom it pleased, Hamadou said his country was a signatory to international arms conventions, and, "Niger can't defy the international conventions."
The United States gave no details of its allegation, beyond saying that Iraq had failed to mention the sought-after transaction in its arms declaration to the United Nations.
The uranium-industry World Nuclear Association lists Namibia and South Africa as the other leading uranium producers in Africa.
Other countries, particularly Congo and Central African Republic, have rich uranium reserves.
South Africa, which had a nuclear program during apartheid, is believed the only African nation capable of producing weapons-grade uranium. South Africa in September categorically denied uranium transactions with Saddam.
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"Asked if Niger couldn't sell the ore to whom it pleased, Hamadou said his country was a signatory to international arms conventions, and, "Niger can't defy the international conventions."
Cough, cough, unless millions of $$$$ are involved, Cough.
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