PM urges anti-terrorism steps at Japanese nuclear plants

TOKYO (AP) - Japan's prime minister said on Tuesday that Japanese nuclear plants need to increase anti-terrorism measures, a major weak spot found in the wake of the Fukushima disasters.

Shinzo Abe acknowledged at a parliamentary session that an investigation into the tsunami-hit Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant revealed an overall lack of security. Abe said the government has instructed nuclear operators to upgrade security measures to match international standards, and police have since replaced private security guards to provide 24-hour watch around nuclear facilities.

Tokyo had dismissed US recommendations to strengthen severe accident measures at nuclear plants in case of a Sept. 11-style attack, saying the chances of such attacks on Japan were extremely low.

During Tuesday's lower house budget committee meeting, Abe said that security measures around Japanese nuclear plants were thin and limited to reactor areas.