Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. April 25, 2008 UN Official Criticizes US for Withholding Syrian Nuclear Intelligence --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1C05936:A6F02AD83191E160BFD3FF1F574631E921A4E82C900CD027& International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei also condemns Israel for destroying suspected site during airstrike last September Mohamed ElBaradei (file photo) The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has criticized the United States for withholding intelligence the U.S. says shows North Korea was helping Syria build a nuclear reactor. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said in a statement Friday he deplores the Bush administration's delay in providing the information. He also condemned Israel for destroying the suspected site during an airstrike last September, but said the IAEA is taking the intelligence seriously and will investigate the matter. Syria today denied U.S. allegations it has been involved in secret nuclear activities with North Korea and accused the United States of aiding Israel in the attack. The Bush administration said Thursday Syria was building a nuclear reactor not intended for peaceful purposes. It called the matter a "potentially destabilizing development" for the region. Syria's ambassador to the U.S. Imad Moustapha told CNN Israel had destroyed a vacant military building. He said Washington has a history of fabricating evidence of nuclear activity. U.S. intelligence officials briefed congressional lawmakers about the suspected facility Thursday. Some leading members of congressional committees expressed anger the Bush administration waited months to brief them about the issue. Washington and four other nations -- South Korea, Japan, China and Russia -- are involved in negotiations aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. South Korea's ambassador to the U.S. Lee Tae-sik says the Bush administration's allegations will not derail those talks. Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.