Syrian government smuggles missiles, WMD to Sudan: western intelligence

LONDON, April 8, 2004 (MENL) — Syria’s Defense Ministry has been smuggling missile and weapons of mass destruction components to Sudan in an apparent effort to conceal them from Western inspection.

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

The sources said the Syrian shipments to Khartoum were placed on civilian airliners but authorized and directed by the Defense Ministry.

“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.”

The intelligence sources said the Sudanese regime of President Omar Bashir was not informed of the Syrian missile and WMD shipments. They said the Syrian material was sent to Khartoum as part of the increased trade relations between the two countries and processed and stored by Sudanese companies.