This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19709969

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Barack Obama to warn UN over Iran nuclear weapons Barack Obama to warn UN over Iran nuclear weapons
(about 1 hour later)
  
President Barack Obama is to tell the UN General Assembly the US will "do what we must" to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, officials say. The UN General Assembly has opened in New York, where US President Obama is to say the US will "do what we must" to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Middle East is set to dominate the summit in New York and the president will give one of the opening speeches. Unrest across the Middle East is set to dominate discussion the summit.
In an address six weeks before the US presidential election, he is expected to say that a nuclear-armed Iran "is not a challenge that can be contained". Mr Obama is to give one of the opening speeches and, six weeks before the US presidential election, is expected to say that a nuclear-armed Iran "is not a challenge that can be contained".
He is also set to condemn the violence that erupted over an anti-Islam video.He is also set to condemn the violence that erupted over an anti-Islam video.
In a tribute to the US ambassador to Libya murdered in Benghazi, President Obama will challenge the UN to affirm that "our future will be determined by people like Christopher Stevens, and not by his killers", according to excerpts from Tuesday's speech released by the White House.In a tribute to the US ambassador to Libya murdered in Benghazi, President Obama will challenge the UN to affirm that "our future will be determined by people like Christopher Stevens, and not by his killers", according to excerpts from Tuesday's speech released by the White House.
"Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations," he will say."Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations," he will say.
The UN General Assembly is likely to be dominated by the recent protests across the Muslim world in response to the US-made video mocking the Prophet Muhammad, as well as Iran's nuclear programme and the 18-month conflict in Syria. The meeting is likely to be dominated by the recent protests across the Muslim world in response to the US-made video mocking the Prophet Muhammad, as well as Iran's nuclear programme and the 18-month conflict in Syria.
In his opening address, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the fighting in Syria as "a regional calamity with global ramifications".
He called for action from the divided UN Security Council and said "the international community should not look the other way as violence spirals out of control".
"Brutal human rights abuses continue to be committed, mainly by the government but also by opposition forces," he added.
People did not look to the UN to be simply a mirror reflecting back a divided world, said Mr Ban: Rather, they wanted to see it come up with solutions to problems.
'Fake regime''Fake regime'
In his address, the president will vow that "the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," with the backing of "a coalition of countries" holding Tehran accountable. In his address, Mr Obama will vow that "the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," with the backing of "a coalition of countries" holding Tehran accountable.
President Barack Obama's comments on Iran's nuclear programme are in large part a re-statement of what he has said before.President Barack Obama's comments on Iran's nuclear programme are in large part a re-statement of what he has said before.
Last March he noted that he would "take no options off the table" when it came to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "I do not have a policy of containment," he said.Last March he noted that he would "take no options off the table" when it came to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "I do not have a policy of containment," he said.
Some six months later the message is little different. It falls short of the clearly defined red lines apparently demanded by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Some six months later the message is little different. It falls short of the clearly defined red lines apparently demanded by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But Mr Netanyahu's insistence came close to prompting a crisis in US-Israel relations. He may now have to be content with stating his view of the potential red lines in his own UN speech. Mr Obama is clearly not going to announce publicly a trigger for war with Iran.But Mr Netanyahu's insistence came close to prompting a crisis in US-Israel relations. He may now have to be content with stating his view of the potential red lines in his own UN speech. Mr Obama is clearly not going to announce publicly a trigger for war with Iran.
Although the White House said the president's address should not be considered a campaign speech, it follows critical remarks about his foreign policy from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.Although the White House said the president's address should not be considered a campaign speech, it follows critical remarks about his foreign policy from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
His presidential rival condemned Mr Obama's description of the murder of Mr Stevens and three other Americans as "bumps in the road". He has also castigated him for not taking time out to hold talks on Iran during the summit with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.His presidential rival condemned Mr Obama's description of the murder of Mr Stevens and three other Americans as "bumps in the road". He has also castigated him for not taking time out to hold talks on Iran during the summit with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Obama has rejected the Israeli leader's calls for Washington to set Tehran "red lines".Mr Obama has rejected the Israeli leader's calls for Washington to set Tehran "red lines".
Mr Netanyahu has recently appeared on US television to press for a tougher line on Iran, and he will take the same message to the General Assembly on Thursday.Mr Netanyahu has recently appeared on US television to press for a tougher line on Iran, and he will take the same message to the General Assembly on Thursday.
Tehran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.Tehran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.
On the eve of the assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a UN meeting that Israel was a "fake regime", prompting Israel's UN ambassador, Ron Prosor, to walk out.On the eve of the assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a UN meeting that Israel was a "fake regime", prompting Israel's UN ambassador, Ron Prosor, to walk out.
'Extremely bad''Extremely bad'
Syria's 18-month conflict is not formally on the General Assembly's agenda but it is likely to be addressed by several speakers on the opening day, including Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, French President Francois Hollande and Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Syria's 18-month conflict is not formally on the General Assembly's agenda but it is likely to be addressed by several speakers on the opening day, including French President Francois Hollande and Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Mr Hollande, in his first appearance at the assembly, is also expected to call for backing for an international force to be sent to the West African state of Mali to help dislodge Islamist militants who have taken over the north of the country.Mr Hollande, in his first appearance at the assembly, is also expected to call for backing for an international force to be sent to the West African state of Mali to help dislodge Islamist militants who have taken over the north of the country.
The UN Security Council has been unable to reach agreement on the Syria crisis and on Monday UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned that the situation was "extremely bad and getting worse".The UN Security Council has been unable to reach agreement on the Syria crisis and on Monday UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned that the situation was "extremely bad and getting worse".
While he did not have a full plan, he said he had "a few ideas". Mr Brahimi has just visited Damascus as well as refugee camps in neighbouring Jordan and Turkey.While he did not have a full plan, he said he had "a few ideas". Mr Brahimi has just visited Damascus as well as refugee camps in neighbouring Jordan and Turkey.
The BBC's Barbara Plett says that diplomats have played down expectations for Mr Brahimi's mission, with no sign of fundamental divisions on the council being bridged.The BBC's Barbara Plett says that diplomats have played down expectations for Mr Brahimi's mission, with no sign of fundamental divisions on the council being bridged.