US, Russia and UK back Israel at Mideast meeting

In a boost to Israel, Russia joined the US and Britain on Tuesday in backing Israel's view that the Middle East cannot be turned into a nuclear arms-free zone without progress on regional peace.

The three nations – who are charged with registering new members to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty – also blunted Arab efforts to get them involved creating such a zone, telling an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting that was the sole responsibility of countries in the region. (AP)