Russian reactors to work on Australian uranium

Moscow, Sep 7 (UNI) Australia will supply uranium to Russia for processing and use in Russian nuclear reactors.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Russian Federal Nuclear Power Agency head Sergei Kiriyenko signed a deal on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy today, in Sydney in the presence of Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A previous agreement on such cooperation had been signed in 1990 which had provided for uranium processing only for some of the third world countries.

After the talks with Mr Howard, Mr Putin said uranium delivered to Russia will not be used for military purposes.

''Those speaking about Russia's possible use of Australian uranium for military purposes either don't understand what it is all about or intentionally inject this thesis to prevent cooperation,'' Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Kiriyenko said Russia was ready to process 4,000 tons of Australian uranium a year.

UNI