Malaysian parties condemn nuke tests

Malaysian parties condemn nuke tests

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's ruling and opposition parties
held an unprecedented joint meeting yesterday to condemn French
nuclear tests in the South Pacific and called for an immediate
halt to the testing.

In a joint memorandum, the parties demanded that Paris
apologize to South Pacific countries and compensate them
financially for "adversely affecting or destroying" their
environment.

They also demanded that France set up a fund under the United
Nations to help those in the South Pacific whose lives were
"affected or endangered" by the effects of the tests.

Representatives of 25 political parties signed a five-point
memorandum after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad, president of the United Malays National Organization
(UMNO).