US energy sites tighten security

By Barnie Choudhury
BBC correspondent in Washington

Los Alamos has suffered other security lapses

Energy facilities in the US have been told to halt operations that use the type of computer discs missing from the Los Alamos nuclear weapons laboratory.

Nineteen employees of the New Mexico centre have been suspended while the FBI probes a security breach there.

They were called in after two storage devices disappeared from the top secret laboratory just over two weeks ago.

The discs are thought to hold classified information, possibly containing nuclear secrets.

An investigation and comprehensive review of security is currently taking place and has shut down all work at the key installation.

Embarrassment

The US Energy Secretary, Spencer Abraham, has ordered work to be stopped at all departments that use the of kind of devices that are missing.

Almost 8,000 people are employed at the lab and managers are having face-to-face meetings with them to make sure their security and safety training are up-to-date.

This is the latest in a long line of security breaches at the installation, that have included a scientist being imprisoned for charges relating to mishandling secret nuclear information.

Despite five years of trying to plug security gaps, the installation continues to embarrass the authorities.