Malawi ratifies nuclear explosions treaty

LILONGWE, Malawi, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Malawi has ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, joining an effort by the international community to ban nuclear explosions.

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization says that with Malawi's ratification of the CTBT, the number of countries working to ban nuclear explosions now totals 147, the CTBTO reported.

The CTBTO currently has more than 330 facilities around the world designed to monitor nuclear explosions underground, in the oceans and in the atmosphere.

Despite the growing number of countries that have ratified the CTBT, the treaty still needs to be ratified by nine countries listed as Annex Two countries in order to go into force. The remaining Annex Two countries are China, North Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States, the release said.