Syria has turned down a planned visit to a research reactor in Damascus by UN nuclear inspectors trying to shed light on possible covert atomic activity in the country, diplomats said on Wednesday. Syria told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a letter that the visit could not take place due to preparations for the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors meeting, which starts on Monday.

The letter was dated Feb. 18, the same day as the IAEA issued its latest report on Syria, but reached the agency on Tuesday, a diplomat close to the IAEA said. This did not give the agency enough warning as it had planned the inspection also for Tuesday. (Reuters)