WASHINGTON, March 4, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - US President Joe Biden on Thursday
urged Russia to stop its military activities at a Ukrainian nuclear power
plant and to allow in emergency services.

   Biden joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "in urging Russia to
cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and
emergency responders to access the site," a White House readout of a call
between the two leaders said.

   Russian troops attacked the Ukrainian nuclear plant -- Europe's largest --
early Friday local time, with images on a live feed showing blasts lighting
up the night sky and sending up plumes of smoke.

   A senior US official said the latest information "shows no indications of
elevated levels of radiation, and we're monitoring closely."

   US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm tweeted that she had spoken with her
Ukrainian counterpart and said that the site's reactors are protected by
"robust containment structures" and "are being safely shut down."

   "Russian military operations near the plant are reckless and must cease,"
she said, adding that her department had activated its Nuclear Incident
Response Team.

   Russia's attack on the plant drew swift international outcry, with the
UN's atomic watchdog warning of "severe danger" if the reactors were hit and
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accusing Russian President Vladimir
Putin of endangering all of Europe.