The number of potential nuclear weapons countries could more than double in the next few years unless the powers take significant steps toward disarmament, the chief of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog was quoted saying on Friday. According to Mohamed ElBaradei, the threat of proliferation was particularly great in the Middle East, the Guardian newspaper reported.
He predicted the next wave of proliferation would involve "virtual nuclear states". "This is the phenomenon we see now and what people worry about in Iran," he conveyed. "And this phenomenon goes much beyond Iran. Pretty soon ... you will have nine weapons states and probably another 10 or 20 virtual weapons states."
The Middle East is a "ticking bomb" because people feel totally repressed by their own governments and unjustly treated by the outside world, said ElBaradei.
