Wednesday, October 6, 1999 Published at 13:08 GMT 14:08 UK
Nuclear treaty looks doomed in US
Russian rocket silos in the Arctic are difficult to monitor
The Clinton administration's campaign to persuade the Senate to ratify the landmark treaty on banning nuclear tests around the world is looking increasingly forlorn.
A senior Democratic arms-control advocate has said the Senate - dominated by Republicans - will not approve the treaty, which was launched three years ago.
So far 154 nations have signed but the treaty will not go into effect until it has been ratified by a further 18 countries. The United States was the first to sign but the Senate has refused to ratify.
The United Nations deputy secreatary-general, Louise Frechette, has warned that further delay in bringing the treaty into force will increase the risk of nuclear testing being resumed.
Fighting talk from Clinton
President Clinton has promised an all-out fight to get the treaty through, and on Tuesday said that rejection would have implications for American leadership on the issue.
They believe it would not stop the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran and would harm efforts to maintain the safety and reliability of the US nuclear arsenal.
The United States stopped testing in 1992 and President Clinton says it has no intention of resuming.
The United States is one of more than 154 signatories to the CTBT.
On Monday, in a move seen as an attempt to allay Senate concerns, the US Government confirmed it was trying to get better access to Russian nuclear test sites.
The Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that it was unable to accurately monitor low-level tests at a key site in the Russian Arctic.
At least 22 Republican senators would have to join the 45 Democrats to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority for the pact to be ratified.
Senate Majority leader Trent Lott said he would consider delaying next Tuesday's vote.