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Bush defends US Mid-East policies Bush defends Mid-East line at UN
(40 minutes later)
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. US President George W Bush has defended his policies on the Middle East 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". The meeting was opened by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who made an urgent plea for peace in the Middle East.
The crisis in the Sudanese region of Darfur is also a central issue. Mr Annan also raised the Darfur crisis in Western Sudan, which he described as the UN's biggest challenge.
In his opening address to the assembly, Mr Annan said Darfur was the biggest challenge faced by the UN. In his address, he said ongoing violence there "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". Iran must abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions George W Bush
Iran must abandon its 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. 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 Security Council has backed the despatch of a full UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians, but the Sudanese government has not approved the force.
In his speech, Mr Bush the force had to be deployed. "The United Nations must act - [the Sudanese people'] lives and the United Nations' credibility are at stake."
Iran divideIran divide
Mr Bush also raised the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme. Mr Bush said that if the Khartoum authorities did not do so quickly, the UN had to act. "Your lives and the United Nation's credibility are at stake," he added, addressing the people of Darfur.
"Iran must abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions," he said, adding that he would work on a "diplomatic solution". The US president also announced the appointment of a special US envoy to the region.
Darfur is set to be a contentious issue at the meeting
On the Middle East, Mr Bush rejected criticism that his policies were destabilising the region: "This argument rests on a false assumption - that the Middle East was stable to begin with."
He said recent elections showed that democracy was progressing in many countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
"A world beyond terror where the extremists are marginalised by the peaceful majority" was within reach, the US president said.
He also highlighted the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme and urged Tehran to "abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions".
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.
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. Chirac meets Bush
But on Tuesday, in an apparent U-turn, Mr Chirac said "we cannot have negotiations if we do not have suspension [of enrichment] beforehand". While Russia and China have 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 new negotiations with Iran.
He was speaking after talks with Mr Bush. Both Mr Chirac and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will address the assembly. But on Tuesday, in an apparent U-turn, Mr Chirac said after talks with Mr Bush: "We cannot have negotiations if we do not have suspension [of enrichment] beforehand."
Both Mr Chirac and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are among the leaders due to address the assembly.
Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely civilian, and designed to meet its energy needs.Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely civilian, and designed to meet its energy needs.
Mr Annan's opening speech to the assembly was his last as secretary general. Mr Annan's opening speech to the assembly was his last as secretary general. His second five-year term in office ends at the end of the year.
His second five-year term in office ends at the end of the year. On the Israel-Palestinian conflict, he said: "As long as the Palestinians live under occupation, exposed to daily frustration and humiliation, and as long as Israelis are blown up in buses and in dance halls, so long will passions everywhere be inflamed."
Mr Annan told delegates that during his tenure many countries had been lifted from poverty, but others were still lagging.Mr Annan told delegates that during his tenure many countries had been lifted from poverty, but others were still lagging.
Globalisation, he added, was "not a tide that lifts all boats". Globalisation, he said, was "not a tide that lifts all boats".