Small fire at Moscow nuclear research labatory

MOSCOW, May 2 (Reuters) A small fire destroyed a computer at a nuclear research centre in Moscow today, but the fire was quickly controlled and there was no suggestion the fire could release materials that would harm Muscovites.

The institute was founded by the Soviet Union in 1943 to research nuclear weaponry. It has its own research reactors.

''There is no threat to the reactors. The incident will not affect the work of the institute. The firemen are checking the building at the moment,'' RIA Novosti news agency quoted the emergencies ministry as saying.

Local agencies said the fire was caused by a computer overheating, which melted a table and produced heavy smoke.

REUTERS RL RN2304