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Bush defends US Mid-East policies Bush defends US Mid-East policies
(30 minutes later)
US President George W Bush has been defending his controversial Middle East policy at the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders. US President George W Bush has defended his controversial Middle East policy at the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders in New York.
Mr Bush said democracy was gaining ground in the region and terrorists were being marginalised.Mr Bush said democracy was gaining ground in the region and terrorists were being marginalised.
His speech comes after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned that Iraq was on the verge of slipping into "full-scale civil war".His speech comes after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned that Iraq was on the verge of slipping into "full-scale civil war".
The crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, is also set to be a central issue. The crisis in the Sudanese region of Darfur is also a central issue.
In his opening address to the assembly, Mr Annan said Darfur was the biggest challenge faced by the UN.In his opening address to the assembly, Mr Annan said Darfur was the biggest challenge faced by the UN.
Ongoing violence there, he told delegates, "makes a mockery of our claim to shield people from abusers".Ongoing violence there, he told delegates, "makes a mockery of our claim to shield people from abusers".
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the issue hangs like a dark shadow over this session, raising questions about the UN's effectiveness and relevance. Iran must abandon his nuclear weapons ambitions George W Bush BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the issue hangs like a dark shadow over this session, raising questions about the UN's effectiveness and relevance.
The UN Security Council has backed the despatch of a full UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians from violence, but the Sudanese government is still refusing to allow it to set foot on the ground.The UN Security Council has backed the despatch of a full UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians from violence, but the Sudanese government is still refusing to allow it to set foot on the ground.
In his speech, Mr Bush the force had to be deployed. "The UN must act - [the Sudanese people'] lives and the UN's credibility are at stake."
Iran divideIran divide
Mr Annan - whose term in office ends at the end of the year - also said that during his 10 years as secretary general many countries had been lifted from poverty, but others were still lagging. Mr Bush also raised the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.
Darfur is set to be a contentious issue at the meeting "Iran must abandon his nuclear weapons ambitions," he said, adding that he would work on a "diplomatic solution".
Globalisation, he added, was "not a tide that lifts all boats".
The crisis over Iran's nuclear weapons programme is also expected to be among the major talking-points.
Despite US and European efforts, there has been no unanimity in the Security Council on the issue of sanctions against Iran, which has refused to follow UN demands that it suspend the enrichment of uranium.Despite US and European efforts, there has been no unanimity in the Security Council on the issue of sanctions against Iran, which has refused to follow UN demands that it suspend the enrichment of uranium.
While Russia and China have long been dubious about sanctions, France broke ranks with its European allies on Monday when President Jacques Chirac said he did not believe suspension of enrichment should be a precondition for the resumption of negotiations with Iran. Darfur is set to be a contentious issue at the meetingWhile Russia and China have long been dubious about sanctions, France broke ranks with its European allies on Monday when President Jacques Chirac said he did not believe suspension of enrichment should be a precondition for the resumption of negotiations with Iran.
But on Tuesday, in an apparent U-turn, Mr Chirac said "we cannot have negotiations if we do not have suspension [of enrichment] beforehand".But on Tuesday, in an apparent U-turn, Mr Chirac said "we cannot have negotiations if we do not have suspension [of enrichment] beforehand".
He was speaking after talks with Mr Bush. Both leaders will address the assembly, as will Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was speaking after talks with Mr Bush. Both Mr Chirac and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will address the assembly.
There are reports in the US press that White House officials are trying to ensure that Mr Bush and the Iranian leader do not bump into each other. Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely civilian, and designed to meet its energy needs.
UN dilemma Mr Annan's opening speech to the assembly was his last as secretary general.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton and Cuban President Fidel Castro shared an uncomfortable handshake when they found themselves next to each other in a crowded room. His second five-year term in office ends at the end of the year.
Mr Ahmadinejad has challenged Mr Bush to a head-to-head debate on world issues. Mr Annan told delegates that during his tenure many countries had been lifted from poverty, but others were still lagging.
The Middle East will, as ever, loom large, says our correspondent. Globalisation, he added, was "not a tide that lifts all boats".
The UN is heavily engaged in Lebanon, and efforts will be made to move ahead on the Palestinian-Israeli track.
But with the Israelis still smarting from the war in Lebanon, with the Palestinians still hesitating about a national unity government, and with growing tensions between Washington and some of its key allies on the approach to be taken, it is again hard to see significant progress being made, our correspondent says.
He adds that this in a sense sums up the UN's dilemma - on many of the key crises facing the world, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council are divided, hampering the wider work of the UN as a whole.
The leaders of Iran, France, South Africa and Pakistan are also due to address the General Assembly.