Ukraine backs UN peacekeepers at occupied N power plant

KYIV, Sept 07 (AFP): Ukraine's nuclear operator said Wednesday it would support the deployment of UN peacekeepers at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia plant, a day after the UN atomic watchdog called for a security zone around the site.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report Tuesday saying the situation at the nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, was "untenable". The agency sent a team to the site last week.

It called for a demilitarised security zone to be established at the plant in southern Ukraine, which the Russians took over in March.

There has been repeated shelling around the site, sparking fears of a nuclear disaster.

Ukraine's nuclear operator Energoatom said Wednesday it would support the deployment of UN peacekeepers to the facility and called for Russian troops to leave.

"One of the ways to create a security zone at the (plant) could be to set up a peacekeeping contingent there and withdraw Russian troops" Energoatom chief Petro Kotyn said in remarks broadcast by Ukrainian TV.

Ukraine and Russia have traded blame for shelling at the site, which continued Tuesday even as the IAEA report was released.

The head of Ukraine's nuclear security agency warned Wednesday that a nuclear accident at the site could affect neighbouring countries.