Algeria defends Iran's right to nukes

ALGIERS, Algeria, March 9 (UPI) -- Algerian Foreign Minister Abdel Aziz Belkhadem said his country would defend Iran's right to possess nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The daily al-Yom Wednesday quoted Belkhadem as saying that Algeria "in its capacity as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a non-permanent member of the Security Council will defend its own right as well as the right of Iran and all countries in the peaceful use of nuclear energy."

He stressed, "We and others have the right to possess that technology as long as we don't use it wrongly."

Belkhadem noted that Algeria is operating a nuclear reactor in the south, which is regularly monitored by IAEA inspectors in line with international treaties.

"This reactor poses no threat to the region's security, despite the media campaign waged against it," he added.