President Barack Obama has challenged the international community to confront the causes of Middle East turmoil, saying the world faces “a choice between the forces that would drive us apart and the hopes we hold in common.”

American diplomats led a walkout at the UN General Assembly today as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a sweeping attack on the United States and major western European nations.

Iran today reiterated that it is ready to reopen unconditional negotiations with Europeans over its controversial nuclear programme, which Washington says is aimed at producing a nuclear bomb.

President George Bush, answering demands to know his intentions toward Iraq, has invited the congressional leadership to a White House briefing today.