World leaders vow nuclear security

World leaders vow nuclear security Leaders at a world nuclear summitEdge card have agreed to work together in securing loose nuclear material within four years to prevent them from falling into the hands of groups such as al-Qaeda.

At the second day of the 47-nation summit convened by Barack Obama, the US president, in Washington DC, the leaders called for new controls on enriched uranium and separated plutonium, key elements in making nuclear weapons.

"We welcome and join President Obama's call to secure all vulnerable nuclear material in four years, as we work together to enhance nuclear security," the leaders said in a joint communique on Tuesday.

The communique states that the countries will accelerate protection of nuclear materials under their control.

It said that a main issue was "to prevent non-state actors from obtaining the information or technology required to use such material for malicious purposes".

He also said that it was agreed that new institutions were not needed to carry out those actions but the strengthening of the UN, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and multilateral partnership.

The agreement will not be legally binding.

Obama had earlier called for action rather than talk to secure loose nuclear materials and prevent a potential "catastrophe for the world" should they fall into the hands of groups such as al-Qaeda.

The White House said on Tuesday that the US, Canada and Mexico have agreed to work together with the IAEA to downgrade a Mexican research reactor from using high to low enriched uranium fuel.

The move will allow the removal of all highly enriched uranium from Mexico.

Russia also said that it will spend up to $2.5bn to help dispose of weapons grade plutonium, while China agreeed to help draft new sanctions against Iran over Edge cardits disputed nuclear programme.