The United Nations Security Council has refused to back a report by a panel of experts which unanimously concluded that Iran broke UN sanctions when it launched ballistic missiles a year ago.

THE United States and South Africa struck a deal yesterday to allow the release of $1.5 billion (€1bn) in frozen Libya funds for humanitarian aid and other civilian needs, UN diplomats said.

The UN Security Council tonight approved tough new sanctions against North Korea for its recent nuclear test.

Diplomats called for a second emergency session of the United Nations Security Council seeking to prevent an all-out war between Russia, Georgia and the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.