President Hosni Mubarak announced earlier that Egypt planned to construct a series of nuclear power plants, relaunching a program shelved 20 years ago following the Chernobyl disaster.

Egypt's move follows similar announcements by other Arab nations including the oil-rich Gulf states and former international pariah state Libya - despite growing tensions between Iran and the West over its own nuclear program.

Cairo's announcement that it would seek nuclear capabilities to ensure its future energy security while ruling out any military ambitions, received the immediate backing of Iran's arch-foe Washington.

"It is a right for all Arabs," Mubarak thundered at the Arab summit in Riyadh in March, sparking talk it was time for an "Arab nuclear family".

Among those seeking nuclear power are Algeria, Jordan, Libya, the six members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council including OPEC powerhouse Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. PGCC heads of state are due to report on the feasibility of a regional nuclear program at their annual summit in Qatar in December.

Last week, the specialist Middle East Economic Digest reported that the PGCC had proposed to Iran the creation of a multinational consortium to provide enriched uranium to the Islamic republic as a way of resolving the standoff.

The United States has 103 nuclear power stations, followed by France with 59, Japan with 55 and Russia with 31 fully operational facilities and seven being built.

Asia is also investing heavily in atomic energy and experts argue that should an alliance develop between Egypt and China - and possibly including Russia - this could weaken Washington's ties to Cairo, its traditional ally.