News

Iran may escape censure at a meeting of the
189 signatories of a global anti-nuclear arms pact despite growing
concerns that Tehran might be developing atomic weapons, according to a
draft declaration.

The United States and other countries
say Iran is in breach of its obligations under the 1970 nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a landmark arms-control pact that has
been the focus of a month-long conference and review wrapping up this
week.

The draft also names North Korea, which
pulled out of the NPT several years ago.

Ray Acheson of Reaching Critical Will, a
nuclear disarmament group, said the Iranian delegation had insisted
that if it were named, the United States and others should be as well
for "serious noncompliance with Article I of the NPT."

Article I of the NPT obliges the five
nuclear powers -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia
-- not to transfer nuclear weapons technology to other countries.

Diplomats said the reference to Article I
violations was a dig at Western support for Israel, which is presumed
to have a sizable nuclear arsenal but neither confirms nor denies it.

The draft calls on NPT holdouts Israel,
India and Pakistan to sign the treaty and allow U.N. inspectors to
inspect their atomic facilities. It also says the conference "deplores"
nuclear test... >>>