Claims nuclear shipments had consent of ex-Pakistan leader

KEY nuclear components were shipped to North Korea by Pakistan's army with the blessing of the country's former president Pervez Musharraf, it was claimed today.

The allegation was made by scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who was sacked and disgraced after his 2004 confession that he was solely responsible for spreading nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Pakistan has repeatedly denied its army or government knew about Mr Khan's proliferation activities.

Mr Khan said that, in 2000, centrifuges and uranium enrichment equipment were sent from Pakistan in a North Korean plane that was loaded under the guidance of Pakistani security officials. "It was a North Korean plane and the army had complete knowledge about it and the equipment," Mr Khan said. "It must have gone with his (Musharraf's] consent."

Mr Musharraf's spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, rejected the claims. "I can say with full confidence that it is all lies and false statements."