The United Nations Security Council will vote today on a resolution authorising the deployment of the first wave of military observers to monitor a ceasefire between the Syrian government and opposition fighters.

An advance team of United Nations observers is standing ready to enter Syria, where a tentative ceasefire is “relatively respected” despite government troops and heavy weapons still in population centres, according to a spokesman for international envoy Kofi Annan.

Syria has promised to stop fighting in time for the deadline for a ceasefire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan.

Syrian troops have launched a fierce assault on a Damascus suburb, days ahead of a deadline for a UN-brokered ceasefire.

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is urging the Syrian government to lay down its weapons first to immediately end the nation’s crisis.

UN chief Kofi Annan has agreed to mediate in efforts for the release of two abducted Israeli soldiers after requests from both Hezbollah and Israel, Annan’s spokesman said today.

The defence team in the trial of Saddam Hussein protested today over the arrest of four of its witnesses, saying some of them were beaten by Iraqi guards.

A UN team assessing the feasibility of early elections in Iraq met with local politicians yesterday, amid reports that a suspected al-Qaida operative proposed provoking sectarian conflict between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims to disrupt the scheduled power transfer to Iraqis.

Two years to the day after the first prisoners began arriving at Guantanamo Bay, families of detainees are asking how much longer they must wait for their loved ones to be tried or released.

Four Afghan factions have agreed on an interim cabinet headed by anti-Taliban commander Hamid Karzai.

The United Nations presented a draft deal on Afghanistan’s political future today, outlining terms for the Northern Alliance to transfer power as part of intense international efforts to secure peace and stability in the war-torn country.

Talks on Afghanistan’s political future moved into a decisive phase today, with pressure building on the Northern Alliance to agree to an interim administration.

The Northern Alliance is facing international pressure to break a deadlock in talks on Afghanistan's political future by coming up with names of people it wants in an interim administration.

Afghan factions have drafted lists of proposed representatives for a post-Taliban administration.

Afghan factions today open talks on how to share power and secure peace once the Taliban are defeated.

UN mediators are holding a conference in Germany to speed up plans for an interim Afghan government.