Russia presses UN to report on Syria attack risks

Diplomats say that Russia is pressing the UN atomic agency to report on the nuclear risk of air strikes on Syria in efforts to stave off possible US attack.
Two diplomats said Russian envoy Grigory Berdennikov urged action on an earlier request in comments today to the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board.
A confidential letter from the Russian foreign ministry to IAEA chief Yukiya Amano obtained by The Associated Press today warns of the "catastrophic" consequences of a strike on a research reactor near Damascus.
The diplomats, who were inside the closed meeting, demanded anonymity because they were not authorised to report on the discussion.

The IAEA has said it is assessing Russia's request.