"Significant progress was made last year in strengthening nuclear safety around the world, the U.N. atomic watchdog said in its annual review, despite the 'challenge' posed by a large number of ageing reactors."

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published the report shortly before a protest on Monday by Greenpeace activists targeting one of France's oldest nuclear power plants and demanding its closure.

The EDF's Tricastin plant was built more than 30 years ago - an age which it shares with many other atomic energy facilities, the IAEA survey showed."

Fredrik Dahl reports for Reuters July 16, 2013. [2]