Moscow: Voicing deep concern at the consequences of the already leaked sensitive technology from Pakistan, a senior Russian Defence official today (Feb 5, 2004) said the Government of the country must bear the responsibility for nuclear proliferation.

"The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is extremely concerned at the consequences of the already leaked nuclear technologies from Pakistan, as well as at the possibility of repetition of such incidents," the unnamed 'senior Defence official' was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS news agency.

Commenting on the acceptance of responsibility for the proliferation by the father of Pakistani 'Islamic bomb' Abdul Qadeer Khan and appeals for pardoning him, the Russian Defence official said that the world continues to live according to the 'jungle law' and the UN must act to enact 'single rules of game' in the control of weapons of mass destruction.

"It is explicitly obvious, that these rules must provide for the legal responsibility of the national governments for violation of the ban on proliferation of mass destruction weapons," the Defence official was quoted as saying.

The agency also expressed doubt in Khan's claims that the Pakistani authorities were not aware of his proliferation activities.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov also strongly spoke about threat of nuclear and other mass destruction weapons falling into the hands of terrorists.

"Fear of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists is a real threat," he quoted as saying by the agency.