Diplomats _ Syria rejects nuke probe

Diplomats say Syria has formally rejected a request from the head of the U.N. atomic agency for access to a suspected nuclear site.

The diplomats said senior Syrian officials told the agency in a letter this month that Damascus would allow no new inspections.

Israeli warplanes destroyed what the U.S. says was a secretly built nuclear reactor in 2007. Syria allowed International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to visit the site once but has refused subsequent requests.

The refusal was a snub to IAEA chief Yukiya Amano, who had directly asked Syria's foreign minister in November to allow a new visit.

The agency is attempting to probe both Syria and Iran. It is to release reports on both nations later Friday.

The diplomats spoke anonymously because their information was confidential.