Leaders of the world\'s richest nations have called for tighter control of arms, including nuclear weapons and missiles which could be used by terrorists. A statement issued at the end of a Group of Eight (G8) meeting in France made specific reference to Iran and North Korea, urging them to comply with international nuclear safeguards. The summit was the first opportunity for many of the leaders to meet since sharp divisions developed over the war in Iraq. French President Jacques Chirac held talks with his US counterpart George W Bush, which they both said had been held in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Huge protests which erupted into violence on the first day of the G8 meeting on Sunday were not repeated on Monday. The closing statement from the summit in the town of Evian called global terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction \"the pre-eminent threat to international security\". It said the world community had to use weapons inspections, export controls \"and, if necessary, other measures\" to tackle the threat of these weapons. \"We strongly urge North Korea to visibly, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle any nuclear weapons programmes,\" said the statement. It added that Iran\'s nuclear programme could also lead to weapons production. A senior British official reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that Moscow would \"stop all nuclear exports\" to Iran until it signed an additional protocol with the United Nations nuclear agency. Earlier in the day, Iran invited the US to take part in the construction of its nuclear power plants in an effort to allay Washington\'s suspicions that Tehran is building nuclear weapons. The idea was rejected last week by the US when it was suggested by Russia. The G8 nations - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US - also issued an action plan designed to keep portable surface-to-air missiles out of the hands of terrorists. (BBC)