At 9:44 AM on the 8th, museum director Minoru Hataguchi entered today's date into the clock. The digital display that tracks the days since the last test changed from "113" to "0". An unsmiling Hataguchi expressed his anger saying, "The strategic missile reduction treaty signed by the US and Russia the other day gave us a glimmer of hope, but these tests mean we're not heading for disarmament, but preparing to use nuclear weapons in combat. They trample on the spirit of Hiroshima. I am truly outraged."

Letter of Protest from Mayor Akiba

Also on the 8th, Mayor Akiba sent letters strongly protesting the subcritical nuclear test to both President Bush and Ambassador Baker. "India and Pakistan are poised on the brink of nuclear war. Meanwhile, the United States not only insists on maintaining nuclear weapons for self-defense, but is advocating development and planning the use of such weapons. Indeed, we gravely fear that this self-centered, unilateralist stance could light a fuse that will possibly lead to the annihilation of the human race in a nuclear holocaust." The letter went on to demand that the U.S. work in good faith toward a 21st century of peace free from nuclear weapons.

This letter of protest was the third sent this year, following the letter sent in February to both the US and the UK. This brings the total number of protest letters since 1968 to 583.

U.S. carries out subcritical nuclear test in Nevada

WASHINGTON, June 7 Kyodo - The United States carried out its 17th subcritical nuclear experiment Friday at an underground test site in Nevada, the Energy Department said.

The test, the fourth of its kind under the administration of President George W. Bush, is part of the so-called Oboe series of relatively small-scale subcritical nuclear experiments.

Subcritical nuclear experiments differ from traditional nuclear weapons tests in that they do not reach criticality or sustain a nuclear chain reaction.

The U.S. argues such tests are necessary to collect essential scientific data and technical information to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpiles.

Antinuclear groups, however, say subcritical nuclear tests run counter the spirit of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons.

The latest experiment was initially scheduled for Wednesday, but it was postponed to Friday due to a technical issue. ==Kyodo 2002-06-08

(Caption)Director Hataguchi resetting the number of days since the previous nuclear test on the Peace Watch Tower to zero (9:44 a.m. on June 8 at the Peace Memorial Museum in Naka-ku, Hiroshima)