UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18: The United States on Wednesday circulated a resolution on weapons of mass destruction asking governments to ensure that these weapons do not find their way into the hands of terrorist groups, diplomats here said.

US President George W. Bush had expressed his intention to propose such a resolution in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Septem-ber.

Diplomats here said that the circulated resolution calls for designating as crimes practices that lead to proliferation of such weapons, and strengthening export controls and border checks.

The draft “decides that all states” take steps to stem the spread of arms of mass destruction to individuals and groups.

It asks all 191 United Nations members to adopt and enforce laws to prohibit any group or individual from making, acquiring, developing, transporting or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, “in particular for terrorist purposes.”

It also says states must set up domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including by securing existing weapons and establishing appropriate border and export restrictions.

The five permanent members — China, Britain, France, Russia and the United States — will discuss the proposed resolution in a working-level meeting on Friday.