VIENNA: The head of the UN nuclear agency is warning of the dangers of nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists and is urging world nations to apply an agreement meant to minimise such dangers.

Yukiya Amano of the International Atomic Energy Agency says 11 more nations must agree to adhere to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material before it can enter into force.

He said Monday that its application would "reduce the likelihood of terrorists being able to detonate a ...'dirty bomb,'" which can spread radioactivity over a wide area. It would also reduce the risk of an attack on a nuclear power plant.

He notes that nearly 2,800 incidents of radioactive material going missing have been reported to his agency since 1995.