51.   Three underground blasts have been conducted since September at Mururoa and Fangataufa Atolls in French Polynesia.

52.   France has carried out two of a scheduled series of six to eight underground blasts at its South Pacific test site.

53.   France has said it will conduct between six and eight underground blasts at the Mururoa and nearby Fangataufa atoll sites in French Polynesia.

54.   France has triggered an international wave of fury after detonating the first of up to eight underground nuclear blasts on the South Pacific atoll of Mururoa.

55.   In Brussels, a spokesman for the European Commission said France had agreed in principle to let a commission delegation monitor the effects of the underground blasts.

56.   China has proposed amending the treaty to allow non-military underground blasts, diplomats said, amid fears the exemption clause could provide a loophole for illicit tests.

57.   China is the only declared nuclear power still carrying out tests since France finished a series of underground blasts in the South Pacific in January.

58.   The protest came just one day after France resumed its nuclear testing programme with an underground blast at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific.

59.   The underground blast also came only two days after China said it was ready to sign a comprehensive test ban treaty including even peaceful nuclear explosions.

60.   The underground blast came only two days after China said it was ready to sign a comprehensive test ban treaty including even peaceful nuclear explosions.