Algeria slams big power nuclear monopoly

ALGIERS, Algeria, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Algerian President Abdel Aziz Boutefliqa Thursday denounced alleged efforts by major powers to stop developing countries from using nuclear energy.

"It is the right of countries of the south to possess this technology and control it for humanitarian and scientific purposes within the framework of international legitimacy," Boutefliqa told an African conference on energy.

Algerian Foreign Minister Abdel Aziz Belkhadem said earlier his country is determined to continue its nuclear research for scientific purposes and confirmed its intention to sign the additional protocol on non-proliferation and use of nuclear weapons.