UN News

"The need to hold free elections in an environment free of coercion topped the agenda of meetings Sunday in Baghdad between the senior United Nations envoy to Iraq and representatives of various political parties." [Read more] UPDATE: UN envoy hails start of voting, pledges support for peaceful democracy

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events World Must Act Quickly to Stop Sudan Violence: UN Arctic, Tropical Islands Unite in Climate Fight World Weather Disasters Spell Record Losses in 2005 Mugabe Rejects UN Offer of Tents Deadly Violence in Sri Lanka Must Not Derail Peace Process - Annan UN Troops Murder Suspect Arrested Sri Lanka: Focus of Tsunami Recovery is Shifting to 'Bricks-and-Mortar' Reconstruction

BBC: "UN investigators are due to question five Syrian officials on Monday as part of their inquiry into the killing of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri. The officials, who have not been identified, will be interrogated at UN offices in Vienna. An interim UN report has already implicated Syrian and pro-Syrian Lebanese officials in the death of Hariri in a Beirut bombing in February."

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events UN Summit Seeks Climate Solutions UN AIDS Envoy Says Private Sector Must Help Cash-strapped Global Fund Baby Becomes First Victim of Cold as Winter Hits Kashmir Survivors Culling Wild Birds Ineffective Against Flu Experts 'Weep' Over Shrinking Lake Victoria 90M Girls Worldwide Missing Primary School Education Because of Pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, Other Factors, UNICEF Report Says The Long Road Home to South Sudan After a Lifetime in Exile

"Detlev Mehlis, who heads the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, has reached an agreement with the Syrian authorities on the United Nations office in Vienna as a venue for the questioning of five Syrian officials in the case, a UN spokesperson confirmed..." [More]

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events UN Official Wants Probe of Iraq Jails Annan Asks Greater Support for Pakistan Quake Relief UN to Set up Bird Flu Warning System UN Council Works to Avert Eritrea-Ethiopia War UN Slams North Korean Rights Abuses

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events Nations Seek $500M U.N. Humanitarian Fund Four killed as U.N. Troops, Haitians Fight Concern Over Colombian Refugees UN Reins in Staff After Afghan Suicide Attacks Internet Governance To Be Tackled At UN Summit Bosnia and Herzegovina at Brink of EU Membership, Security Council Told Greece: UN Expert Seeks Improved Child Protection

Secretary General Kofi Annan (front, second) is shown the damage caused to the Grand Hyatt Hotel by the suicide terrorist bombing in Amman, Jordan, by the Minister of Tourism, Akel Bitaji (front, left). UN PHOTO/Mark Garten "United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Iraq for a one-day visit to the capital, Baghdad, where he met with a number of top Iraqi leaders and the staff of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) while voicing support for an Arab League conference on the troubled country. Speaking to reporters, he stressed the importance of Iraq's political transition, and said the process must be inclusive and transparent, taking into account the concerns of all groups." [LINK]

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events Security Council Presidential Statement Condemns 9 November Amman Terrorist Bombings UN Council Seeks Quick Justice for Amman Bombings Annan to Visit Jordan Tomorrow Following Terrorist Suicide Attacks UN Urges Governments to Help Track Down Jordan Bombers At critical juncture, UN Political Affairs chief to visit Middle East Next Week U.N. Patrols Curtailed Between Ethiopia, Eritrea Pakistan: UN reports urgent need for female doctors in quake relief Toxic Sites in Iraq to be Made Safe UN Extends Mandate of Multinational Force in Iraq for a Year UN Has Reformed, Will Continue: Frechette