UN council endorses nuclear curbs
President Obama has set nuclear non-proliferation as a key policy
The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for nuclear disarmament, in a session chaired by US President Barack Obama.
The resolution calls for further efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms, to boost disarmament, and to lower the risk of "nuclear terrorism".
It was the first time US president had chaired a Security Council meeting.
The resolution comes amid growing concerns among western powers over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
It also comes a day after Mr Obama's debut UN speech, in which he warned of a nuclear arms race.
The resolution adopted on Thursday reaffirms the council's commitment "to seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons".
It does not specifically mention countries by name, such as North Korea and Iran, but reaffirms previous Security Council resolutions relating to their nuclear plans.
Iran's nuclear programme has been criticised by the US and five nations who are set to hold talks next week.
Iran says its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful energy purposes, but others fear it is developing weapons.
Q&A: Nuclear disarmament
China firm on Iran sanctions
Debuts and diatribes at the UN
UN Assembly: Key Issues
Obama urges world to unite
Also on Thursday, a UN conference on a 1996 treaty banning nuclear bomb tests will begin with a speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Her appearance is the first US participation at the biannual conference since 1999 when the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty.
On Wednesday, the first day of the United Nations General Assembly, Iran's plans came under fire.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iranian leaders were "making a tragic mistake" if they thought the international community would not respond.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran - and North Korea - that the world would be even tougher on proliferation.
In his speech on Wednesday, President Obama said: "For decades, we averted disaster, even under the shadow of a super-power stand-off. But today, the threat of proliferation is growing in scope and complexity.
"If we fail to act, we will invite nuclear arms races in every region, and the prospect of wars and acts of terror on a scale that we can hardly imagine."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signalled that Moscow might be prepared to soften its opposition to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans.
But the Chinese foreign ministry has said that increasing pressure on Iran would not be effective.
In his speech, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke of countries which undermined the development of other nations under the pretext of preventing arms proliferation.
Mr Obama said he and Mr Medvedev shared the goal of allowing Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy, but not nuclear weapons.
(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8272396.stm)
A historic event, I'd say.
Live video of president Obama's speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kerXQYPGAjc&feature=player_embedded
President Obama has set nuclear non-proliferation as a key policyThe UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for nuclear disarmament, in a session chaired by US President Barack Obama.
The resolution calls for further efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms, to boost disarmament, and to lower the risk of "nuclear terrorism".
It was the first time US president had chaired a Security Council meeting.
The resolution comes amid growing concerns among western powers over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
It also comes a day after Mr Obama's debut UN speech, in which he warned of a nuclear arms race.
The resolution adopted on Thursday reaffirms the council's commitment "to seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons".
It does not specifically mention countries by name, such as North Korea and Iran, but reaffirms previous Security Council resolutions relating to their nuclear plans.
Iran's nuclear programme has been criticised by the US and five nations who are set to hold talks next week.
Iran says its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful energy purposes, but others fear it is developing weapons.
Q&A: Nuclear disarmament
China firm on Iran sanctions
Debuts and diatribes at the UN
UN Assembly: Key Issues
Obama urges world to unite
Also on Thursday, a UN conference on a 1996 treaty banning nuclear bomb tests will begin with a speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Her appearance is the first US participation at the biannual conference since 1999 when the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty.
On Wednesday, the first day of the United Nations General Assembly, Iran's plans came under fire.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iranian leaders were "making a tragic mistake" if they thought the international community would not respond.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran - and North Korea - that the world would be even tougher on proliferation.
In his speech on Wednesday, President Obama said: "For decades, we averted disaster, even under the shadow of a super-power stand-off. But today, the threat of proliferation is growing in scope and complexity.
"If we fail to act, we will invite nuclear arms races in every region, and the prospect of wars and acts of terror on a scale that we can hardly imagine."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signalled that Moscow might be prepared to soften its opposition to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans.
But the Chinese foreign ministry has said that increasing pressure on Iran would not be effective.
In his speech, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke of countries which undermined the development of other nations under the pretext of preventing arms proliferation.
Mr Obama said he and Mr Medvedev shared the goal of allowing Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy, but not nuclear weapons.
(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8272396.stm)
A historic event, I'd say.
Live video of president Obama's speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kerXQYPGAjc&feature=player_embedded
BTW, who are you "quoting"? 
