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The United Nations expert on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has condemned recent incidents in Bunia, during which militia fighters fired shots at UN military observers carrying out a disarmament operation in the area.

AIDS currently represents the international community's greatest leadership challenge, one that must be characterized by candid recognition of the disease's impact on societies and the steps that must be taken in response, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today after a high-level interactive panel discussion on HIV/AIDS held at the United Nations.

Clashes in central Afghanistan have reportedly forced some 60 families to flee, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly condemned today's assassination attempt against Dr. Akila al-Hashimi, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, and warned that the attack would only undermine the country's political progress.

Almost two million Angolans will receive agricultural emergency assistance in the next few weeks before the start of the rainy season in the largest operation ever in Africa by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the agency announced today.

The United Nations environmental agency opened an office in Beijing today in recognition of the important progress being made in meeting environmental challenges in China, the world's largest developing country, and to support future policies for curbing pollution and achieving sustainable development.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan rang the Peace Bell at United Nations Headquarters in New York today to mark the the annual International Day of Peace, cautioning that the direst threat to peace for some was terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, while for others it was poverty, disease, deprivation and civil war.

The United Nations Security Council today unanimously approved the establishment of a new mission for war-shattered Liberia, where the UN will deploy up to 15,000 military personnel and over 1,000 civilian police officers to bring peace to a country torn by 12 years of conflict.

The Security Council today unanimously agreed to extend for six months the mandate of the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone and stressed the importance of continued support to the West African country’s Government in consolidating stability, reintegrating ex-combatants, repatriating refugees and respecting human rights and the rule of law.

For the first time since the terrorist bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad exactly one month ago, the UN flag was raised to full staff today during a ceremony that paid tribute to the 22 people killed, including the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.