The five permanent members of the UN Security Council met for the first time yesterday to discuss a response to the Iran nuclear crisis after its nuclear watchdog agency handed over the issue of the disputed programme.

The UN Security Council is to hold a briefing on Burma and its ruling military junta, which detains political opponents and is accused of violating human rights.

The UN Security Council joined the United States and Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the Moscow school hostages.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Israel and Russia and the gruesome murder of 12 Nepalese civilians in Iraq. The UN Security Council condemned the Israeli suicide bombings and “all other acts of terrorism”.