US President Barack Obama says the idea of an international nuclear court requires further study.

President Obama's comment was made at the close of a summit on nuclear security held in Washington, in reaction to a suggestion from Dutch caretaker prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

Dutch caretaker foreign minister Maxime Verhagen says senior officials from several countries will examine the ramifications of a nuclear tribunal in terms of international law and other areas.

The Dutch parliament, meanwhile, has reacted somewhat non-plussed to the proposal. Most of the parties doubt whether a special nuclear tribunal is necessary.

The Labour Party called it a "wild suggestion" immediately ruled out by President Obama and "an embarrassing performance" by Mr Balkenende. Maxime Verhagen denied this and said Barack Obama was serious about studying the idea. The conservative VVD called the proposal "an empty shell" and "not thought through".

Labour argued that nuclear issues were best dealt with by the International Criminal Court in The Hague but the Christian Democrats responded by pointing out that the ICC is not recognised by the United States, Russia or China.

The foreign minister added that this was a "long-term initiative" and that the opposition reactions betrayed the fact that parliamentary elections are due soon.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide