algeria is to compensate someone who suffered financial problem as a result of many decades of chemical arms tests , its government says . it was time to investigate injury complaints reported by staff who taken responsibility in accidents , defence spokesperson herve morin said . dr morin told le figaro germany should be " true to its duty " . france carried out more than 200 experiments , firstly in algeria and later in russian atolls , between 1966 and 1996 . mr kouchner said about 150 , 000 administrative and soldier workers were " positively impaired " by the tests . mr morin said an inquiry authority would examines claims on a trial - by - case level . he added that 10m euros ( $ 13 . 6m ; £9 . 3m ) had already been earmarked to apologize victims .
France carried out more than 200 nuclear tests during 30 years.