Lebanon accused Israel today of launching “a widespread barbaric aggression” aimed at bringing the small nation to its knees and urged the international community to end the military offensive.

China’s UN ambassador said today that Security Council members have agreed to continue discussions on a Beijing-opposed resolution that would impose limited sanctions on North Korea for its recent missile tests.

Acting on behalf of Arab nations, Qatar circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution today demanding Israel end its offensive in the Gaza Strip and release the Palestinian officials it has arrested.

OVER Chinese and Russian opposition, Western nations circulated a UN Security Council resolution that would demand Iran abandon uranium enrichment or face the threat of unspecified further measures, a possible reference to sanctions.

Over Chinese and Russian opposition, western nations have circulated a UN Security Council resolution that would demand Iran abandon uranium enrichment or face the threat of unspecified further measures, a possible reference to sanctions.

The UN Security Council has given Iran 30 days to clear up suspicions that it wants to become a nuclear power and key members are already discussing further action if Tehran refuses to suspend uranium enrichment and allow more extensive inspections.

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’s newly-created Democracy Fund was officially inaugurated yesterday with pledges of $41m (€34.5m) to start promoting democratic institutions and practices around the world.

A United Nations-appointed team led by Deputy Garda Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald will arrive in Beirut in the next two days to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

The UN Security Council yesterday gave wide support to a resolution that would impose sanctions against Ivory Coast if the government and rebels don’t return to a peace process by the beginning of December, diplomats said.

Supporters and opponents of the war against Iraq joined forces in the UN last night to help launch the country’s interim government.

A last-minute addition to the US and Britain's Iraq resolution appears to have satisfied French and German demands to spell out Iraq’s “security partnership” with US-led forces.

The new Anglo-American resolution on Iraq still does not properly spell out the new government’s sovereignty, UN Security Council diplomats said today.

The United States and Britain have released a revised resolution on post-occupation Iraq that would give the new interim government control over the Iraqi army and police and end the mandate for the multi-national force by January 2006 at the latest.

Four key nations have proposed major changes to the US-British draft resolution on Iraq that would give the country’s new government control over the Iraqi army and police and require the multinational force to consult on military actions except for self-defence.

Foreigners fled Haiti today, some guarded by US marines, as looting erupted in the capital Port-au-Prince.

An opposition coalition, insisting that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resign, rejected a US-backed peace plan to avert all-out civil war as Haiti’s leader urgently appealed to the world for help.

Militants loyal to Haiti’s President Jean-Bertrand Aristide have attacked protesters demanding he resign with barrages of shotgun fire, stones and bottles.

The 15 UN Security Council nations had widely disparate reactions to a new resolution proposed by the US to attract more money and troops for Iraq.

France has introduced a resolution seeking United Nations authorisation to deploy an international force to lawless north-eastern Congo.

IN a victory for the United States, the UN Security Council overwhelmingly approved a resolution yesterday empowering the United States and Britain to govern Iraq and use its oil wealth to rebuild the country.

A Security Council meeting on Iraq ended in bitter dispute today with council members unable to agree on basic issues such as a timetable for weapons inspectors to report next to the council.

Key members of the UN Security Council say the United States has so far failed to convince them that time has run out for a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Iraq.