Reuters: US official warns UAE on trade with Iran, Syria

US official warns UAE on trade with Iran, Syria
14 Dec 2006 20:01:28 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The United States warned the United Arab Emirates
on Thursday it may take action against the Gulf state if it fails to halt the flow
of technology to Iran and Syria that can be used to make improvised bombs.

"We continue to discuss this issue with UAE authorities but time for action is running
short," Chris Padilla, assistant secretary of commerce for export administration, said
in a speech to an industry group.

Washington has accused both Syria and Iraq of allowing military equipment into their
mutual neighbor Iraq, where so-called Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are one of
the deadliest weapons used in the insurgency against U.S. troops.

Padilla cited the activities of Mayrow General Trading, a UAE-based company, as "just
one example of an alarming lack of export oversight by the government of UAE."

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