World Scene

LIBYA

U.N. agency finds gaps in nuke plan

VIENNA, Austria — Some nuclear technology ordered by Libya for its former weapons program is missing, and the origin of other material is not clear, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said yesterday, raising concerns about where the equipment is and whether North Korea could have been a provider.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) findings on Libya’s dismantled nuclear-weapons program were circulated to diplomats in a confidential report ahead of a meeting of the agency’s board of governors. That meeting, which starts Sept. 13, will review the progress of IAEA investigations into secret nuclear activities by Libya and Iran.

The U.N. agency credited Libya with cooperation in efforts to get to the bottom of its activities, but said some “enrichment technology” was missing after Libya ordered but never received it. The report also said the origin of two cylinders of uranium hexafluoride remains unknown.

SAUDI ARABIA

Gunman takes aim at U.S. diplomatic car

JIDDA — Shots were fired yesterday at a U.S. diplomatic car near the U.S. Consulate in the Red Sea port city of Jidda, but no injuries were reported, the U.S. Embassy said.

An official declined to give details on the occupants of the car or how many people it was carrying. Security sources told Reuters news agency that the car was carrying one passenger plus the driver, both of whom escaped unhurt.

FRANCE

Jewish man arrested in arson attack

PARIS — French police yesterday arrested a Jewish man on suspicion of torching a Jewish community center in Paris a week ago, a blaze that initially was assumed to be an anti-Semitic arson attack.

The arrest marked an embarrassing turnaround in the investigation of the Aug. 22 fire, which had led the French government to declare war on racism and prompted a snap visit to Paris by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

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