The UN’s blind watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei is pushing hard to continue helping the Syrians build a nuclear reactor, despite new evidence that they were conducting a clandestine nuclear project. ElBaradei says that just like individuals, countries should be considered innocent until proven guilty: ‘Don’t prejudge Syrian nuclear program.’

“There are claims against Iraq, which proved to be bonkers, but only after a terrible war,” ElBaradei said after the US and its allies questioned Syria’s right to his agency’s help in planning a power-producing atomic reactor.

“There is one thing called investigation, another called clear-cut proof of innocence or guilt … and all of you, even if you are not lawyers, know that people and countries are innocent until proven guilty,” he said. …

Syria denies hiding nuclear activities. But the report strengthened both concerns that it might have something to conceal and arguments from the US and its allies that Damascus should not be offered agency help in planning its civilian reactor. Beyond helping the Syrians develop expertise, the $350,000 aid project would send the wrong signal about a country under investigation by the IAEA, critics like the Americans argued.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said it was “totally inappropriate, we believe, given the fact that Syria is under investigation by the IAEA for building a nuclear reactor outside the bounds of its international legal commitments.” …

But ElBaradei disagreed, saying there was no legal basis to cancel or postpone the program.

Commenting on ElBaradei’s scrappy stance, a senior diplomat with good connections to IAEA staff said the agency chief personally sent text messages to key aides telling them to stand tough on the Syria issue. He demanded anonymity because his information was privileged.