BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

Concerns over Burma's nuclear plans

International concerns have been raised over Burma's decision to build a nuclear reactor with help from Russia.

The United States, Europe and China say Burma is not adhering to advice from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on setting up a regulatory framework to ensure the safety of the nuclear plant.

The European Commission said without the intervention of a independent regulatory body, operational and maintenance standards might not be sufficient to prevent radioactive leaks.

The country's military government says the reactor is needed to produce Isotopes for the medical industry.

A BBC science correspondent says Burma's partner, Russia, does not itself have a good safety record, with three of its reactors having been shut down because of malfunctions in the past week alone.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service