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Landlocked nations will try to improve their access to seaports and negotiate other measures that would make it easier for them to engage in world trade at a conference sponsored by the United Nations starting tomorrow in Paraguay.

The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has strongly condemned the murder of a human rights activist in the eastern region of the country and appealed to the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly.

Iran re-started activities at a uranium conversion plant today following the installation of surveillance cameras by the United Nations atomic watchdog but “regrettably” prior to completion of their testing, the agency entrusted with curbing the spread of nuclear weapons reported.

A Palestinian militant group kidnapped three staff members of the main United Nations agency helping Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip this morning, releasing them several hours later following negotiations.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomes a decision by the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Transitional Government to disarm a Rwandan rebel militia on DRC territory by force after it failed to honour its pledges to disarm and return home.

International aid may at last be flowing in to alleviate Niger’s food crisis, spurred on by horrific images of starving children, but it arrived too late for one 12-month-old baby boy. He died from severe malnutrition literally before the eyes of the deputy chief of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has for the past year kept up the hope that the parties in Western Sahara would break the current deadlock in the peace process so that the 14-year-old United Nations mission organizing a referendum for the territory could help them reach a mutually acceptable political solution, according to a new report.

Praising the commitment of the southern-based Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) to keep the fragile peace process on track following the helicopter crash last weekend that killed ex-rebel leader – and newly-elected Vice-President – John Garang, the top United Nations envoy for Sudan has pledged the world body’s support in the days ahead.

The United Nations today launched an appeal for just over $100,000 following a cholera outbreak in Guinea-Bissau, which has killed 64 people.

Voicing deep concern at the latest report by the independent commission probing the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme for Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today waived the immunity of a former procurement officer accused of soliciting kickbacks, said he would do the same for another official implicated in the case and pledged to act quickly to strengthen controls over the procurement process.