WASHINGTON -The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a "comprehensive review" of the safety of all nuclear plants in the United States following a dangerous and complicated situation at Japan's damaged Fukushima Daiichi reactors.

US President Barack Obama took the rare step and called upon the independent commission to conduct the review.

"When we see a crisis like the one in Japan, we have a responsibility to learn from this event and to draw from those lessons to ensure the safety and security of our people," Obama said on Thursday.