MENL: Arab states urged to acquire nukes

This was a predictable development:

Arab League states have been urged to develop nuclear technology in response to Iran's suspected weapons program.

A two-day Gulf conference in Manama affirmed the right of Arab states to develop nuclear technology for peaceful applications. The Bahraini-sponsored conference, attended by security officials from a range of Arab countries, also warned of the dangers of nuclear proliferation, particularly by Iran.

"We can't just sit and look from the outside as these developments take place," Mohammed Al Said Idris, a consultant at the Egyptian state-owned Al Ahram Center for Strategic Studies, said.

A concluding statement on Sept. 11 urged the Arab League to formulate a strategy on the acquisition of civilian nuclear technology. The conference, titled "The Dangers and Consequences of Nuclear Proliferation in the Gulf Region," cited such nuclear applications as agriculture, industry, medicine and water.

Tags: Arab states, Iran, Nukes, Arab League