VIENNA, Sept. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Morocco and Tanzania signed Additional Protocols to their safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sept. 22 and 23 respectively, a press release of the agency said Thursday.

    Last week, the IAEA Board of Governors approved Additional Protocols for the four countries of Algeria, Benin, Mauritius, and Serbia and Montenegro, raising the total number of board approvals to 94.

    Over the past year, the number of states with Additional Protocols in force has increased appreciably, from 36 to 60, the press release said.

    The agreements, known as Additional Protocols, grant the IAEA complementary inspection authority to that provided in underlying safeguards agreements, typically concluded pursuant to provisions of the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. A main aim is to enable the IAEA inspectors to provide assurance about both declared and possible undeclared nuclear materials and activities.

    Under the Protocols, the IAEA is granted expanded rights of access to information and sites, as well as additional authority to use the most advance technologies during the verification process.

    The IAEA is an intergovernmental organization linked to the United Nations that promotes the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology. One of its main tasks is to monitor the implementation of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is designed to keep all nations except the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. Enditem