Pacific

French Polynesia marks 43rd anniversary of 1st French nuclear test at Mururoa

16:29 pm on 3 July 2009

French Polynesia's nuclear test veterans are today marking the 43rd anniversary of the first French nuclear weapons test.

The test was carried out at Moruroa on July the 2nd 1966, with the testing regime of nearly 200 weapons continuing for 30 years.

The association Moruroa e Tatou has organised a march and film viewings to commemorate the anniversary.

The event is linked to the organisation's unsuccessful campaign to get compensation for those claiming to suffer poor health as a result of the atomic tests.

A French bill recognising for the first time a causal link between the tests and poor health is before the French legislature but the veterans are unhappy about its terms.