Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) said it might use the robot to inspect the suppression chamber of the Fukushima plant.

The country's second largest city has witnessed a series of assassinations and car bombs over the past months.

Israel has carried out airstrikes in Gaza over the past week in an operation it says is meant to stop rocket salvos by Gaza militants at Israel.

The Strategic Missile Forces test-fired a prototype of the new weapon in October from the Kapustin Yar test range.

The supporters say Mr Fillon is the rightful winner of the election to succeed Nicolas Sarkozy as UMP party leader.

The 1980 military takeover, Turkey's third in 20 years, in which virtually the entire political class was rounded up and interned, still haunts the nation.

Bayram Azizov was detained in Baku airport and questioned by Azeri customs official as to the reason behind his visits to Armenia.

A hat-trick by Luiz Adriano and two goals by Willian gave Shakhtar Donetsk a 5-2 win over Nordsjaelland.

The meeting of the Committee of Security Council Secretaries is expected to be held by a separate format.