Obama expresses fears over nuclear attack from al-Qaeda

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has warned al-Qaeda would have "no compunction at using" nuclear weapons if it acquired them.

The comments came at a summit aimed at finding ways to secure the world's nuclear stockpile.

The Nuclear Security Summit in Washington this week is aimed at securing "loose nuclear material".

Mr Obama held one-to-one meetings yesterday with several leaders.

He said: "The single biggest threat to US security would be the possibility of a terrorist organisation obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is something that could change the security landscape around the world for years to come."

Mr Obama said organisations like al-Qaeda were in the process of trying to secure nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.

He said other world leaders offered "very specific approaches to how we can solve this profound problem" and singled out South Africa for giving up its nuclear programme

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