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Although constitutional government is taking root in Africa and the environment for private enterprise is improving, political parties are often weak and ineffective and there still is too much red tape involved in doing business on the continent, according to a new United Nations report released today.

Brig. Gen. Clive Lilley of New Zealand has been appointed Chief of Staff of the oldest United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Middle East.

Congratulating Afghans on "their patience, resilience and civic maturity" during the presidential election process that culminated in Saturday's vote, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said the inquiry into reported polling irregularities will ensure that the procedures are more reliable for local and parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.

As another Palestinian girl in the Gaza Strip was hit by Israeli gunfire while attending a United Nations-run school, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that he was deeply troubled by the continuing military action and violence in the area, especially its effect on local children.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today toured China’s new peacekeeping training centre in the outskirts of Beijing, which was completed just last year for the purpose of readying civilian police for United Nations operations.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire have called for calm after violent demonstrations took place yesterday in Bouaké against two UN sites and the city's business district.

Welcoming Saturday's presidential election in Afghanistan, and congratulating the millions of voters for their "commitment to democracy," the Security Council today urged the Afghan Government to focus on the challenges of improving security, continuing the disarmament of ex-fighters, battling the illegal drug trade and preparing the country for parliamentary elections next April.

A follow-up summit next month to the landmark anti-mine treaty will seek action on gaining universal acceptance of the accord, assisting victims of mine blasts, clearing land of the deadly weapons and destroying stockpiles, the President-designate of the conference said today at the United Nations in New York.

A new $3 million project to help rehabilitate Palestinian farmlands was announced today in conjunction with a United Nations-backed international forum meeting in Beirut to address the damaging effects of the Israeli occupation.

After refusing to allow a group of refugees to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the country's authorities have reversed their position, opening the border and allowing the first group of 200 back in, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) announced today.