UN chief to attend Iran summit

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend the summit of the Nonaligned Movement of mainly developing countries in Tehran next week despite strong opposition from Israel and Jewish groups outraged at Iran’s calls for the destruction of Israel, the UN announced today.

Spokesman Martin Nesirky said Mr Ban will participate in the August 29-31 summit because he is determined to carry out his responsibilities to the 120-member organisation and to raise directly with Iran’s leaders the threat to Israel’s existence, which violates the UN Charter’s requirement that member states refrain from threatening other states.