Malaysian Prime Minister Rejects Turning Over Key Khan Network Associate to United States

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday rejected turning over to U.S. authorities a key member of the international nuclear network formerly headed by top Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, according to Reuters (see GSN, Feb. 15).

Malaysia in May announced the arrest of Sri Lankan resident Buhary Syed Abu Tahir, who is believed to be a middleman in the network used to transfer nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Tahir has been held in custody in Malaysia since his arrest.

Badawi yesterday said there are no plans to turn Tahir over to the United States for questioning by U.S. investigators of the Khan network, Reuters reported.

“Our ... intelligence people like to speak and continue to talk to him. Obviously, there are lot of things we would like to know from him,” Badawi said (Reuters, Feb. 17).

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