United Nations: The United Nations nuclear chief has suggested placing all facilities across the globe producing weapon grade uranium and plutonium under international safeguards to ensure such materials do not fall into the hands of terrorists and countries seeking to produce such weapons.

The head of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, on November 3 cited the "serious and immediate challenge" posed by North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non- proliferation Treaty, the urgent need to determine the full extent of Iran's nuclear programme, lingering questions about Iraq's nuclear efforts and illegal trafficking in radioactive material.

In his annual report to the 191-member Assembly, the Director-General of the IAEA called for limiting the processing of weapon grade material in civilian nuclear programme as well new materials through reprocessing by restricting those operations to facilities under multinational control.

"Multinational approaches to the management and disposal of spent fuel and radio waste should also be considered," he said.

PTI