The G8 summit in Italy endorsed the calls by US President Barack Obama for a world without nuclear weapons.

"We are all committed to seeking a safer world for all and to creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," G8 leaders said in a joint statement Wednesday. 

The heads of state and government of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US welcomed the recent announcement of Obama to seek the sanction of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. 

In the last G8 summit also, which was held in Japan a year ago, the leaders had expressed deep concern about the threat of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction, warning that the proliferation of such weapons and their means of delivery "continues to represent a global challenge and a major threat to international security". 

Obama first spoke of his vision of a nuclear-free world during his first visit to Europe as president in early April. 

In separate declarations, G8 leaders condemned North Korea's latest nuclear tests and urged Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency on its nuclear programme.