Europeans helped Iran, Libya: AQ

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan told US media Tuesday that he was not responsible for passing nuclear secrets to Iran and Libya.

In an interview with the McClatchy news organisation in Pakistan, Khan said that he introduced Tripoli and Tehran to Western businesses who provided the know-how on building a nuclear weapons programme.

He recanted that admission in his interview with McClatchy, telling the news agency that he had merely given Iran and Libya "very small advice" on where to acquire the technology.

"When Iran and Libya wanted to do their programme, they asked our advice. We said: 'OK, these are the suppliers, who provide all.'"

Khan said that the companies who provided the technology to the two rogue regimes were European.

"The Germans have those drawings. The South Africans have those drawings. The French have those drawings. They were the suppliers. You can't blame me for it. They were selling. They were making money. Why put blame on me?" Khan said during the interview from his villa in Islamabad, where he remains under house arrest.