Ukraine uranium pledge

The White House is reporting that the Ukraine has agreed to eliminate its entire stockpile of weapons-grade nuclear material ahead of a key nuclear security summit.



US officials say the Ukraine will get rid of enough highly enriched uranium to build several weapons by 2012.



Leaders from 47 countries have already gathered in the US for the summit, called by President Barack Obama.



The Ukraine\'s agreement is said to have set a precedent that Mr. Obama would like other countries to follow.



It’s estimated there are about 1,600 tonnes of highly enriched uranium in the world - the type used in nuclear weapons.



Experts agree that virtually all of it is held by the acknowledged nuclear weapons states, most of it in Russia.