Moscow and Washington report good progress has been made in the negotiations for a replacement to the so-called Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which is due to expire at the end of the year.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on a two-day visit to Moscow to discuss the dismantlement of the huge nuclear arsenal left over from the Cold War.

Her visit has not been without problems, however. Russian Prime Minister Vlamir Putin has announced that the first nuclear reactor which the Russians are helping Iran to built will be up and running by the summer.

The announcement has been severely criticised by Mrs Clinton. She wants to see guarantees from Iran first that it will not use the technology to build nuclear weapons. She also hope to persuade Russia to support sanctions against Iran.

The secretary of state is due to meet with Prime Minister Putin today.