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UN chief stresses key challenges UN chief calls for global action
(40 minutes later)
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has told global leaders the world faces "a daunting array of challenges", from poverty and climate change to conflict in Darfur.UN chief Ban Ki-moon has told global leaders the world faces "a daunting array of challenges", from poverty and climate change to conflict in Darfur.
Opening the UN annual general assembly, he also called on Burma's military leaders to show restraint in the face of continued pro-democracy protests. Opening the UN general assembly, he said the world body needed to adapt and focus not on rhetoric but on results.
Speeches by the US and Iranian leaders are also keenly awaited. US President George W Bush used his 15 minutes at the podium to highlight human rights violations, naming Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Iran.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to give assurances on Iran's nuclear programme, which he says is for peaceful purposes. Iran's controversial leader is expected to address the assembly later.
President George Bush's speech is expected to focus on the themes that have dominated much of his presidency: the need to spread freedom, to reward advocates of democracy and to isolate regimes whose policies run counter to what he sees as the tide of history, says the BBC's Jonathan Marcus in New York. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in an uncompromising mood on Monday in a speech at New York's Columbia University.
He is also expected to announce sanctions against the ruling military junta in Burma. He argued for further research on the Holocaust and insisted that his country was entitled to its nuclear programme, which he said was entirely peaceful.
UncompromisingUncompromising
Addressing the general assembly for the first time as UN chief, Mr Ban called for "an internal climate of change" at the international body to deal with a growing number of issues. Addressing the general assembly for the first time as UN chief, Mr Ban called for "an internal climate of change" at the international body to deal with a "fractured world".
"I expect the year ahead to be among the most challenging in our history. And I am sure that, together, we can make it one of the most successful."I expect the year ahead to be among the most challenging in our history. And I am sure that, together, we can make it one of the most successful.
"We need to pay less attention to rhetoric, and more attention to results - to getting things done," he said."We need to pay less attention to rhetoric, and more attention to results - to getting things done," he said.
He stressed that peace in the Middle East was vital to regional and world stability. He also said "no stone would be left unturned to end the tragedy in Darfur".He stressed that peace in the Middle East was vital to regional and world stability. He also said "no stone would be left unturned to end the tragedy in Darfur".
He also called on Burma's military leaders to show restraint in the face of continued pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.
This line was echoed by President Bush, who said Americans were "outraged by the situation in Burma".
He announced "tighter" economic sanctions against the junta and urged other nations to apply pressure on the leaders of Burma's "19-year reign of fear".
The US leader's speech focused on the themes that have dominated much of his presidency: the need to spread freedom, to reward advocates of democracy and to isolate regimes whose policies run counter to what he sees as the tide of history.
Shift in tone
The ritual of the general assembly allows each country's head of state or head of government - though some are represented by their foreign minister - to speak for 15 minutes.The ritual of the general assembly allows each country's head of state or head of government - though some are represented by their foreign minister - to speak for 15 minutes.
Each country determines the issues that it wants to raise.Each country determines the issues that it wants to raise.
There is no agenda as such, but the speeches of key countries are closely watched for any evidence of an inflection or shift in their foreign policies.There is no agenda as such, but the speeches of key countries are closely watched for any evidence of an inflection or shift in their foreign policies.
Uncompromising
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be first to follow the UN secretary general, followed by his US counterpart, George Bush.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is also speaking later on Tuesday.
Nearly 200 speeches and several days later, the representative of Trinidad and Tobago will be the last to speak.Nearly 200 speeches and several days later, the representative of Trinidad and Tobago will be the last to speak.
Mr Ahmadinejad was in an uncompromising mood on Monday in a speech at New York's Columbia University, arguing for further research on the Holocaust and insisting that his country was entitled to its peaceful nuclear programme.
The speech from the relatively new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will also be watched carefully.The speech from the relatively new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will also be watched carefully.
He has brought a significant shift in both the tone and content of French foreign policy, and the UN will provide him with a platform to set out the main themes that will dominate his presidency abroad.He has brought a significant shift in both the tone and content of French foreign policy, and the UN will provide him with a platform to set out the main themes that will dominate his presidency abroad.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is also speaking later on Tuesday.