Security meeting to focus on Iran

Controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear programme is expected to dominate a security conference in Munich.

The meeting of defence ministers and MPs is to be addressed by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani.

Mr Larijani said he believed Iran's dispute over its nuclear programme could be resolved through negotiations.

On Saturday Russian President Vladimir Putin told the meeting the United States exerted "almost uncontained" use of force around the world.

The United Nations has set a deadline later this month for Iran either to stop enriching uranium or face broader economic sanctions.

'No way around'

The conference, founded in 1962, has become an annual opportunity for world leaders to discuss the most pressing issues of the day.

Earlier, German chancellor Angela Merkel told delegates the international community was determined to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons.

There was "no way around" the need for Tehran to accept demands from the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), she said.

"What we are talking about here is a very, very sensitive technology, and for that reason we need a high degree of transparency, which Iran has failed to provide, and if Iran does not do so then the alternative for Iran is to slip further into isolation," she said.

Mr Larijani has been repeating Iran's position that it wants nuclear power, not nuclear weapons.

"We believe the Iranian nuclear dossier is resolvable by negotiation," Mr Larijani was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying on the sidelines of the conference.

European diplomats are hoping to hold informal talks with Mr Larijani at the two-day summit.

It would be their first meeting since the collapse of talks last year and the imposition of limited UN sanctions on Tehran for its failure to stop the enrichment of uranium.

Washington's "very dangerous" approach to global relations was fuelling a nuclear arms race, Mr Putin said on Saturday.

Correspondents say the strident speech may signal a more assertive Russia.

The White House said it was "surprised and disappointed" by the Russian president's comments.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6351137.stm

Activity spotted at North Korea nuclear test site

Another government official in Seoul said vehicle and personnel movement had been spotted near the site of the North's first test, Yonhap news agency reported.

That official said there were no signs of cables being laid or electronic monitors being installed, which might indicate a test was imminent.

AUSPICIOUS EVENT FOR NATION

The ABC report said intelligence was inconclusive, but the preparations in hand were similar to steps taken by North Korea before its October 9 test. Many analysts say that first test was not fully successful.

The two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China failed in their latest round of talks in Beijing last month to make any progress in suspending the North's nuclear programs in exchange for aid and pledges not to attack it.

North Korea was rebuffed at those talks in its insistence that it be treated as a nuclear power.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said last week that North Korea has probably extracted more than 50 kg (110 lb.) of plutonium since 1994, with more than 30 kg obtained since 2003 while it was engaged in the six-country negotiations.

North Korea hailed its nuclear test as "an auspicious event for the nation" in editorials in official media to welcome the New Year, adding it would further boost its military strength.

"The DPRK's (North Korea's) nuclear deterrent serves as a powerful force for defending peace and security in Northeast Asia and guaranteeing the victorious advance of the cause of independence," one editorial said.

(Additional reporting by David Morgan, Arshad Mohammed and Paul Eckert in Washington and Kim Yeon-hee in Seoul)

Source: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2007-01-05T040428Z_01_WAT006794_RTRUKOC_0_US-KOREA-NORTH-TEST.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1