"This latest step implementing President (George W.) Bush's policy of reducing reliance on nuclear weapons provides fresh evidence of the fulfillment by the United States of its obligations" under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, said US acting Assistant Secretary of State for non-proliferation Stephen Rademaker.

Rademaker told a disarmament committee of the UN General Assembly here that the deactivation of the Peacekeepr force was completed on September 19.

"Just three years ago, this missile force comprised 50 ICBMs, each capable of carrying 10 nuclear warheads," he said. "All now have been taken out of service, consistent with our obligations under the Moscow Treaty of 2002."

Under the 2002 treaty, Washington and Moscow agreed to cut and limit strategic nuclear warheads so that by December 31, 2012 the aggregate number of such warheads does not exceed 1700-2200 for each party.

Each side was to determine for itself the makeup and structure of its strategic offensive arms, based on the established aggregate limit for the number of such warheads.

Rademaker said that the empty Peacekeeper silos would remain accountable under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed by the two countries in 1991 and would be subject to inspection.

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