Nuclear disarmament treaty

The Bush administration said Monday that Iran was trying to build atomic weapons in secret and suggested the international community should respond by taking away Tehran's right to &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/cis/2001/10/24/18987.html ' target=_blank>nuclear energy technology.

Other world leaders attending a nuclear conference seemed to dismiss the U.S. call for punitive measures. Instead, they spoke of incentives and negotiations as a way of encouraging the Islamic republic to give up worrisome aspects of its energy program that could be diverted for weapons work.

The Bush administration went into the conference hoping to increase pressure on Iran, but its speech highlighted the differences between the United States and its allies over how best to handle emerging nuclear issues, reports the Washington Post.

According to Xinhuanet, UN Secretary-General &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2002/11/21/39746.html ' target=_blank>Kofi Annan has challenged world leaders to breathe life into a key nuclear disarmament treaty.