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).