11.   China conducted a test blast at Lop Nor in its western desert on Monday.

12.   China is the only one of the five declared nuclear powers that is still conducting nuclear test blasts.

13.   China set off an underground nuclear test blast.

14.   China set off nuclear test blasts in May and August.

15.   Chirac earlier this month said France would conduct eight underground test blasts in French Polynesia to verify computer simulation that would make further testing unnecessary.

16.   Chirac has said up to eight test blasts will be staged before the end of May, after which he promises to sign a nuclear test ban treaty.

17.   Criticism of the French test blasts overshadowed a weekend meeting of Union foreign ministers.

18.   For the first time since the final nuclear test blast early this year, a documentary by French state TV shows workers dismantling the test site on Mururoa Atoll.

19.   France conducted the third of its controversial series of test blasts under French Polynesia last Friday.

20.   France has conducted two test blast under Polynesian atolls since September, despite widespread international condemnation.