This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7630698.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Leaders convene for UN assembly Bush chides Syria and Iran at UN
(about 4 hours later)
World leaders are gathering in New York for the opening of the annual United Nations General Assembly. George W Bush has rounded on Iran and Syria in his final speech to the UN as US president, accusing them of continuing to sponsor of terrorism.
Correspondents say the meeting will be dominated by recent turbulent events in the world economy. Mr Bush said the two countries were growing more isolated, and urged the UN to enforce sanctions on North Korea and Iran over their nuclear programmes.
George W Bush, in his last speech to the assembly as US president, is expected to focus on his rescue plan for US financial institutions. He also said the US was taking decisive steps over the global financial crisis.
Tensions between Russia and the West in the wake of the Georgia conflict are also expected to come up. Correspondents say the annual meeting will be dominated by recent turbulent events in the world economy.
Mr Bush will speak shortly after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opens the session. Mr Bush said terrorism was one of the greatest threats the UN had ever faced.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are also due to address the Assembly later on Tuesday. "The ideals of the [UN] Charter are now facing a challenge as serious as any since the UN's founding - a global movement of violent extremists," he said.
African fears Poverty fears
Mr Bush addressed the meeting shortly after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the session with a warning that the economic crisis endangered efforts to reduce world poverty.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are also due to address the assembly later on Tuesday.
There is an unusual air of anxiety at the UN this year, BBC's Bridget Kendall reports.There is an unusual air of anxiety at the UN this year, BBC's Bridget Kendall reports.
Leaders have been hastily rearranging meetings so that they can focus on the financial crisis.Leaders have been hastily rearranging meetings so that they can focus on the financial crisis.
Mr Bush is expected to discuss his administration's $700bn plan to buy back much of the bad debt held by US banks and financial institutions.
African leaders are concerned that the crisis means less funding for fighting poverty.African leaders are concerned that the crisis means less funding for fighting poverty.
Friction between Russia and the West, mounting violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and concerns over nuclear work in North Korea have all added to a sense of crisis, our correspondent says.Friction between Russia and the West, mounting violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and concerns over nuclear work in North Korea have all added to a sense of crisis, our correspondent says.
Opening the assembly, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the financial turmoil put at risk the achievement of the UN-agreed Millennium Development Goals set in 2000 to halve global poverty by 2015.
He also said the crisis demands a new approach with less "uncritical faith in the 'magic' of markets".
"The global financial crisis endangers all our work -- financing for development, social spending in rich nations and poor, the Millennium Development Goals," he told world leaders.