VIENNA, Austria -- The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said yesterday that a Syrian site bombed by Israel in 2007 had the characteristics of a nuclear reactor. It also admitted that its investigation into Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program is deadlocked.

The conclusions were contained in two confidential reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency that were obtained by The Associated Press. The documents were being shared with the 35 nations on the IAEA's board.

The report on Iran -- which also went to the U.N. Security Council -- cautioned that Tehran's stonewalling meant the IAEA could not "provide credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities." And it noted that Iran continued to expand uranium enrichment, an activity that can make both nuclear fuel or fissile warhead material.

Iran denies weapons ambitions, and Syria asserts the site hit more than a year ago by Israeli warplanes had no nuclear functions. But the two reports did little to dispel suspicions about either country.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The U.S. military apparently struck at Islamic militants outside Pakistan's lawless tribal belt for the first time yesterday, firing a missile that killed six suspected insurgents taking refuge away from the conflict zone along the Afghan border.

The government denounced the attack as yet another "grave provocation" amid a series of U.S. military operations in the country that have enflamed widespread anger among ordinary Pakistanis.

The harsh words were a sharp contrast to comments Tuesday by U.S. and NATO officials who reported increased cooperation from Pakistan in the fight against militant groups. Tens of thousands of U.S. and NATO troops are stationed in neighboring Afghanistan.

BEIJING -- The United States opened a branch of the Food and Drug Administration in the Chinese capital yesterday, the first of several overseas offices aimed at regulating the safety of imported food and medicine.

The opening follows scandals involving contaminated Chinese-made toothpaste, pet food, drugs and milk. In the coming months, the FDA plans to open inspection stations in Shanghai and Guangzhou; offices are also to be opened in India and Latin America.

Top militant arrested

MADRID, Spain -- A young gunman arrested this week turns out to be the head of the Basque separatist group ETA -- the first member of an uncompromising and ultra-violent new generation to lead the organization, Spanish officials said yesterday.

Spanish authorities previously said Mikel de Garikoitz Aspiazu, 35, whose alias is Txeroki, or Cherokee in Basque, was in charge of ETA's commando units, which carry out attacks.

Interpol is sending a special investigative team to Mexico to determine whether sensitive information from its database on criminals and terrorists was leaked to drug cartels, the agency said yesterday. ... Rebels in Congo pulled hundreds of fighters back from several front-line positions as promised yesterday in what the U.N. said was a welcome step toward brokering peace in the volatile nation. ... Top-seed Russia bounced back after drawing Germany in the last round to beat England, 3-1, yesterday in round six at the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany.