VIENNA, Sept. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Illicit nuclear materials trafficking cases are increasing, a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Thursday.

    From 2003 to 2004, IAEA member countries reported 121 cases to the UN nuclear watchdog, according to the report released by the agency's Illicit Trafficking Database.

    A total of 93 cases were reported in 2004, the most serious since the database was set up 12 years ago, said the report at the 49th General Conference of the IAEA, which began on Monday.

    Since 1993, the agency registered 662 cases of international nuclear trafficking incidents, mostly involving low-grade nuclear materials.

    Although the quantities of the materials involved are too smallto be significant for nuclear proliferation or terrorist nuclear attacks, those cases indicated gaps of member countries in the control and security of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities, said the report.

    The report also said that since 1993, there had been 18 confirmed incidents of trafficking in highly enriched uranium or plutonium, which are needed to make a nuclear weapon.

    In June 2003, a smuggler was arrested with 170 grams of highly enriched uranium while trying to cross a border.

    The IAEA feared that in the hands of terrorists or other criminals, some nuclear materials could be used for malicious purposes, for example in a radiological dispersal device and "dirty bomb".

    In another annul report submitted to the general conference, the nuclear watchdog called on member countries to take effective measures to prevent and deal with nuclear trafficking activities.

    Also on Thursday, the five-day general conference named a new 35-nation board of governors of the IAEA. Enditem