US N-weapons parts missing, Pentagon says
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: June 19 2008 05:13 | Last updated: June 19 2008 05:13

The US military cannot locate hundreds of sensitive nuclear missile components, according to several government officials familiar with a Pentagon report on nuclear safeguards.

Robert Gates, US defence secretary, recently fired both the US Air Force chief of staff and air force secretary after an investigation blamed the air force for the inadvertent shipment of nuclear missile nose cones to Taiwan.

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Top US air force officials fired - Jun-05Gates raises concerns over energy tussles - May-31Amnesty calls for Guantánamo to be closed - May-27US army suicide cases at record 115 - May-29Editorial Comment: Ban the bomblets - May-28McCain steps up Iraq criticism of Obama - May-29According to previously undisclosed details obtained by the FT, the investigation also concluded that the air force could not account for many sensitive components previously included in its nuclear inventory.

One official said the number of missing components was more than 1,000.

The disclosure is the latest embarrassing episode for the air force, which last year had to explain how a bomber mistakenly carried six nuclear missiles across the US. The incidents have raised concerns about US nuclear safeguards as Washington presses other countries to bolster counter-proliferation measures.

In announcing the departure of the top air force officials earlier this month, Mr Gates said Admiral Kirkland Donald, the officer who led the investigation, concluded that both incidents had a “common originâ€