Premise: France is to compensate people who suffered health problems as a result of three decades of nuclear weapons tests, its government says.  It was time to investigate health complaints reported by staff who took part in tests, Defence Minister Herve Morin said.  Mr Morin told Le Figaro France should be "true to its conscience".  France carried out more than 200 tests, firstly in Algeria and later in French Polynesia, between 1966 and 1996.  Mr Morin said about 150,000 civil and military workers were "theoretically affected" by the tests.  Mr Morin said an independent commission would examine claims on a case-by-case basis.  He added that 10m euros ($13.6m; £9.3m) had already been earmarked to compensate victims.
Hypothesis: Nuclear weapons tests took place over 40 years