British report shows scale of 'nuclear supermarket'
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-08 09:28

British intelligence has identified more than 350 companies, university departments and government organisations in eight countries seeking to acquire technology or materials for weapons of mass destruction, a report said.

The confidential report by security service MI5 revealed the scale of the global "arms trade supermarket," The Guardian said.

The document, which identifies the Pakistani embassy in London among organisations seeking nuclear materials or information, was produced to try and prevent British firms inadvertently aiding weapons proliferation.

Titled "Companies and Organisations of Proliferation Concern", it warns against exports to groups in Iran, Pakistan, India, Israel, Syria and Egypt, as well as counselling about front companies in the United Arab Emirates, which appears to be a hub for the trade.

"It is not suggested that the companies and organisations on the list have committed an offence under UK legislation," the 17-page document says.

"However, in addition to conducting non-proliferation related business, they have procured goods and/or technology for weapons of mass destruction programmes."

The two-year-old report lists 95 organisations in Pakistan as having assisted the country's nuclear programme, the newspaper said.

With Iran, 114 bodies -- including chemical and pharmaceutical companies and university medical schools -- are named as having acquired nuclear, chemical, biological or missile technology.

As well as UAE, which is named as "the most important" of countries where front companies are based, Malta and Cyprus were also identified as possible intermediary locations.