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Bush to address key UN gathering Bush defends US Mid-East policies
(about 10 hours later)
US President George W Bush is expected to defend his controversial Middle East policy at the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders. US President George W Bush has been defending his controversial Middle East policy at the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders.
His speech in New York comes after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned that Iraq was on the verge of slipping into "full-scale civil war". Mr Bush said democracy was gaining ground in the region and terrorists were being marginalised.
The leaders of Iran, France, South Africa and Pakistan are also due to address the General Assembly. 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 Darfur, western Sudan, is also set to be a central issue.
It hangs like a dark shadow over this session, raising questions about the UN's effectiveness and relevance, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. 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".
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.
Iran divideIran divide
The crisis over Iran's nuclear weapons programme will also be one of the major talking points. 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.
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.
Darfur is set to be a contentious issue at the meetingDarfur is set to be a contentious issue at the meeting
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.
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.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.
Mr Bush and Mr Chirac will meet on Tuesday to talk through some of their differences. But on Tuesday, in an apparent U-turn, Mr Chirac said "we cannot have negotiations if we do not have suspension [of enrichment] beforehand".
Both men will address the assembly, as will Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was speaking after talks with Mr Bush. Both leaders will address the assembly, as will Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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.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.
UN dilemma
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.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.
Mr Ahmadinejad has challenged Mr Bush to a head-to-head debate on world issues.Mr Ahmadinejad has challenged Mr Bush to a head-to-head debate on world issues.
UN dilemma
The Middle East will, as ever, loom large, says our correspondent.The Middle East will, as ever, loom large, says our correspondent.
The UN is heavily engaged in Lebanon, and efforts will be made to move ahead on the Palestinian-Israeli track.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.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.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.