News that might effect gold soon#1 Iran renews nuclear weapons development
Fresh evidence has emerged that suggests Iran has renewed work on developing nuclear weapons, according to Western security sources.
By Con Coughlin and Tim Butcher in Jerusalem
Last Updated: 1:08AM BST 12 Sep 2008
Nuclear experts responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear programme have discovered that enough enriched uranium, which if processed to weapons grade level could be used to make up to six atom bombs, has disappeared from the main production facility at Isfahan.
American spy satellites have identified a number of suspicious sites, which the Iranians have not declared to nuclear inspectors, that intelligence officials believe are being used for covert research.
The new discoveries emerged as it was revealed that Israel had asked America for military supplies, including "bunker buster" bombs and re-fuelling planes, suitable for an attack on Iranian nuclear installations.
The Israeli paper Haaretz reported yesterday that Israel has also asked for permission to use an air corridor through Iraqi airspace, currently controlled by America, to Iran.
So far the requests have been turned down by Washington, which is currently not as keen as Israel to consider a military strike against Iran.
But concern that Iran has resumed work on building atom bombs has deepened following the revelation that large quantities of uranium has gone missing from Iran's conversion facility at Isfahan.
The Isfahan complex, which enriches raw uranium "yellow cake" into material that can be used for either nuclear power or atomic weapons, is supposed to be subject to close supervision by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). But the Iranians only allow IAEA inspectors access to the final stage of the production process, where the uranium in gas form - UF6 - is stored.
By conducting a careful study of the amount of material stored at Isfahan, and the amount of "yellow cake" known to have been processed at the plant, nuclear experts believe between 50-60 tons of uranium - which if enriched to weapons grade level would be sufficient to produce five or six atom bombs - has gone missing from the plant.
IAEA officials believe the Iranians have deliberately removed the uranium at a stage in the production process that is not under their supervision. "The inspectors only have limited access at Isfahan, and it looks as though Iranian officials have removed significant quantities of UF6 at a stage in the process that is not being monitored," said a nuclear official. "If Iran's nuclear intentions are peaceful, then why are they doing this?" Nuclear inspectors have also been concerned to discover that Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, recently ordered scientists to increase the amount of UF6 being diverted from Isfahan to another storage facility.
IAEA officials have no idea where the missing uranium is being stored, but suspect it could be held at one of several suspicious installations that have been spotted by American spy satellites.
The Iranians will be asked to give a full account of the missing enriched uranium when the IAEA's board of governors meets in Vienna later this month to discuss the continuing crisis over Iran's nuclear enrichment programme.
The mounting concern over Iran's nuclear intentions has intensified Israeli efforts to prepare for a possible pre-emptive strike on Iran, which has led Jerusalem to presenting Washington with a "wish list" of military equipment.
In the past America has been prepared to provide Israel with "bunker buster" bombs, known by their serial number GBU-28. They weigh over two tons each and are designed to penetrate deep underground, even through reinforced concrete, before detonating.
Israel used them in unsuccessful attempts to take out the leadership of Hizbollah, the militant Shia group, during the war of 2006.
#2
US condemns Bolivia and Venuzuela ambassador expulsions as 'grave error'
The US has condemned the decision by Venuzuela and Bolivia to expell its ambassadors as a "grave error", saying the move reflected their own "weakness and desperation" in the face of internal strife.
By Jeremy McDermott, Latin America Correspondent
Last Updated: 10:32PM BST 12 Sep 2008
Philip Goldberg arrived as US ambassador in Bolivia in 2006 Photo: AFP
America has also announced sanctions against three members of Chavez's inner circle, who it accused of arming Colombian rebel group FARC and facilitating its drug trafficking operations.
It comes after Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez expelled the US ambassador in solidarity with his friend and ally, Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Mr Morales ejected the US ambassador the day before, accusing him of fomenting civil unrest.
"The Yankee ambassador to Caracas has 72 hours to leave Venezuela, in solidarity with Bolivia, with the Bolivian people, and with the Bolivian government," Mr Chavez said, adding "here are people with dignity, Yankee shits."
Mr Chavez, who has accused Washington of being behind a plot to assassinate him, also announced the withdrawal of the Venezuelan ambassador to Washington until "there's a new government in the United States". He again raised the spectre that he could halt his country's significant oil supplies to the US.
"If there was an aggression against Venezuela there would be no oil for the people or for the government of the United States," he said.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said he "regretted" the decisions, which he classed as a "grave error".
"This reflects the weakness and desperation of these leaders as they face internal challenges," he said.
He insisted that the US ambassador in La Paz, Philip Goldberg, was innocent of the charge levied against him of "conspiring against democracy".
"Charges levelled against our fine ambassadors by the leaders Bolivia and Venezuela are false and the leaders of those countries know it," he said. "The only overthrow we seek is that of poverty."
The expulsion of Mr Goldberg has done nothing to calm increasingly violent protests against President Morales by northern and eastern provinces determined to secure greater autonomy.
President Morales has sent troops into the areas, allegedly to protect vital oil and gas infrastructure after a pipeline was bombed, and Mr Chavez is threatening to sent reinforcements if Mr Morales is overthrown.
Eight people have already been killed and 20 wounded after government supporters fought with protesters demanding autonomy in the northern region of Pando.
Honduras' president has now announced that he has postponed the accreditation of the US ambassador in solidarity with Bolivia.
President Manuel Zelaya insisted that Honduras was not breaking relations with the United States, but the move will raise fears in the US that other countries in Latin America could follow suit.
"We only are (doing this) in solidarity with Morales, who has denounced the meddling of the United States in Bolivia's internal affairs."
He added that small nations needed to stick together, saying: "The world powers must treat us fairly and with respect."
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, a close ally of Mr Morales, has also expressed his support for Bolivia's action, but has not announced yet whether he will take similar action.
"Dark forces of the empire are conspiring against the government of Morales," he said on Thursday, in a clear reference to the United States.
#3
North Korea builds secret launch site for ballistic missiles
North Korea has secretly built a launch site for ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, according to new satellite imagery.
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 6:47AM BST 12 Sep 2008
Pongdong-ni's location was discovered by Janes Intelligence Group Photo: AP
Experts are concerned that any weapons launched from the Pongdong-ni centre would be hard to detect thanks to the facility's concealed location among hills close to the northern border with China.
The satellite pictures show a 10-storey launch tower and new roads converging on the site, which could be completed in the next year.
North Korea conducted a nuclear test in 2006 and is believed to possess a small arsenal of nuclear weapons. Kim Jong-Il, the 66-year-old leader of the world's last Communist stronghold, failed to attend a crucial public parade this week. He is thought to have suffered a stroke and the Stalinist state may now be leaderless.
Last year, North Korea agreed to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme in return for aid and recognition from America and Japan. But the country has failed to implement this deal and observers believe it has pressed ahead with developing long range missiles. These include the Taepodong 2 inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), which may be able to fly 6,000 miles and strike America with a nuclear warhead.
Pongdong-ni's location was discovered by Janes Intelligence Group, which requested imagery from the satellite company DigitalGlobe.
Lee Sang-Hee, the South Korean Defence Minister, said he was "aware" of the site and that "about 80 per cent of the work has been completed". He added: "We're watching it closely."
Janes said the facility showed that North Korea "remains actively engaged in an ambitious ballistic missile program".
Christian Le Miere, the editor of Janes Intelligence Review, said it was a "major issue" as the site demonstrated North Korea's determination to build advanced missiles. "This will certainly allow them to test the Taepodong 2 which could become their ICBM for the future."
The site had a rocket test stand, similar to one built in Iran which has collaborated closely with North Korea on missile programmes. The facility will allow scientists to examine rocket vibrations and guidance systems.
"It is significant because it indicates an intention to develop a capability of developing a reliable ICBM," said John Pike, director of the research group GlobalSecurity.Org. "It is set up to do a launch three or four times a year, rather than every decade."
North Korea already has a test site at Musundan-ri, but the new facility is much larger and more advanced. Mr Kim's regime used the old site to fire a Taepodong-1 missile over Japan in 1998. In 2006, it launched a Taepodong-2 missile, but the weapon fell to earth and the test failed.
If Mr Kim has been incapacitated, the Communist state may now be paralysed. Some observers believe the "Dear Leader", who inherited the country's leadership from his father in 1994, may now be dead. Mr Kim has no obvious successor and none of this three sons is believed to have been positioned. A collective leadership, probably dominated by generals, may now take over.