U.N. can inspect alleged n-parts maker: Malaysia PM

U.N. nuclear watchdog may inspect a Malaysian firm as part of investigations into Pak's illicit nuclear parts and uranium trade.

Officials from the U.N. nuclear watchdog may inspect a Malaysian firm as part of investigations into Pakistan's illicit nuclear parts and uranium trade, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Tuesday.

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Malaysian police released details last week of an intricate nuclear black market based on accounts from Sri Lankan businessman Buhary Syed Abu Tahir, including how he contracted items from a local company linked to the prime minister's son.

The report cited Tahir as saying how Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan had arranged for enriched uranium to be sent to Libya and sold $3 million of nuclear centrifuge parts to Iran.

Although Khan had already confessed to leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, the Tahir account added unprecedented detail.

Abdullah said the Malaysian firm Scope had nothing to hide, inviting the International Atomic Energy Agency to take a look.

"If the IAEA feel that they want to come here to look at the factory, it is not closed, they can do so, because they have nothing to hide," Abdullah told a news conference.

Abdullah said he and his son had not spoken about the matter since the report's release.

"It is entirely his business," he said.

Asked whether Washington had sought or would be allowed access to Tahir, who has not been detained for any offence, Abdullah replied: "It's a matter for the police. I'm not here to instruct what's to be done."

U.S. President George W. Bush has accused Tahir of being the deputy and chief money launderer to Khan's operations.

The United States and Malaysia, which is a majority Muslim country, have strong trade links but occasionally testy political relations, though relations have become publicly warmer since Abdullah took over last October from Mahathir Mohamad.