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Delegates attending an open meeting on the role of civil society in armed conflict prevention today praised the recent adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution recognizing the important role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the global efforts for peace.

Rising inter-ethnic tensions, political uncertainty and continuing insecurity are hampering the delivery of assistance to needy populations in western Côte d'Ivoire, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) warned today.

In an effort to make the proceedings of the fifty-sixth annual conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) available to a broader public, the United Nations will for the first time webcast the event around the globe.

Underlining the importance of self-help cooperative organizations, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said such associations are a catalyst for entrepreneurial expansion and an important factor in social stability and cohesion.

Warning that a ban on nuclear testing is more vital than ever given the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on 12 key nations whose ratification is essential for the treaty to enter into force to do so forthwith, specifically naming the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The United Nations has rushed a relief flight carrying tents, blankets and other basic necessities to help ease the severe humanitarian crisis in the Pool region of southwestern Republic of Congo - a desolate, battle-scarred area which has been sacked and looted by rebels.

Continuing efforts within the United Nations to create a strengthened framework for international dialogue and mutual understanding, the fifth in Secretary-General Kofi Annan's lecture series will be held next week with a focus on Islam.

Despite damage to their Baghdad monitoring centre, United Nations weapons inspectors would be able and ready to resume their search for banned weapons of mass destruction in Iraq at short notice if the Security Council so requests, according to the latest quarterly report on the issue.

The United Nations Security Council today welcomed the Frente Polisario's release on Monday of 243 Moroccan prisoners of war, and called on it to immediately release all remaining POWs.

A new United Nations resolution on Iraq should emerge within days and its starting point would be the need to achieve the political, security and economic conditions necessary to transfer sovereignty to the Iraqi people as soon as possible, the Security Council president for September said today.