Global Security Newswire

Myanmar has rebuffed claims that it is pursuing a clandestine nuclear program potentially aimed at weapons development, a U.S. lawmaker said yesterday after meeting with the country's leader (see GSN, Aug. 12).

Two Burmese defectors said the government was building a nuclear reactor and a plutonium processing facility with North Korean assistance. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also expressed concerns about possible nuclear collaboration between the two Asian nations.

Senator Jim Webb (D-Va.) avoided referring directly to the claims during his meeting Saturday with Gen. Than Shwe, but he said the government had addressed the matter, Voice of America reported.

"It was communicated to me earlier on that there was no truth to that, from a very high level in their government," Webb said (Heda Bayron, Voice of America, Aug. 17).