I was pleased to read that North Korea is willing to resume talks on a nuclear weapons moratorium (Report, 25 August). Welcome news when the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists is speculating that Pakistan may assist Saudi Arabia develop nuclear weapons should Iran succeed in building them, creating a "Sunni versus Shia bomb" race.
But we also hear real worries from former UN weapons inspectors to Libya of the possibility of nuclear materials and blueprints from its cancelled nuclear weapons programme being taken from their purpose-built facility in Tripoli in the current chaos. The possibility of such information or materials getting into the hands of those who would use it for a terror device must remain the likeliest scenario for a nuclear attack on a large city. Only by working collectively can we build on the positive developments for a nuclear weapon-free world. The need for a Middle East nuclear weapon-free zone is now more pressing than ever. Otherwise we are all under threat of the real danger from a nuclear attack on one of our great cities ? a scenario that our organisation and the Hiroshima-led Mayors for Peace were set up to campaign against.
George Regan
Chair, Nuclear Free Local Authorities
? One aspect of Libya's resources which Arthur Birchall did not specifically mention in his letter suggesting that Libya join the EU (23 August) is the prospect of solar electric generators sited in the desert there. This would be a valuable traded commodity profitable to all concerned, needing only a secure link across the Mediterranean.
Geof Davey
St Albans, Hertsfordshire
? I have been delighted to see the media resume using the word "rebel" in regard to the opponents of Gaddafi. Why for the past eight years they have chosen to use a different word, "insurgent", for armed opponents of governments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Does the word selected depend on whether we endorse the government?
Patrick Bolster
Bristol
? We might be "lucky it has turned out, so far, reasonably well" (Editorial, 24 August). However, we have not had to bear the maiming and killing, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. I am astonished that you make no mention of this when weighing up the pros and cons of our armed intervention.
Barbara Starkey
St Albans, Hertfordshire
? Neil Redfern's letter (25 August) raises interesting question: if British military advisers and special forces are co-ordinating the final phase of the fighting, is it legal under the UN resolution?
SP Lee
Bristol
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/25/picking-up-pieces-in-libya
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