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Afghanistan, the most mine-affected country in the world, could be free from the threat of landmines in 10 years if clearance operations continue at current levels and donor support is sustained, according to a report published today by the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan, which is overseen by the United Nations Mine Action Service.

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.

The United Nations Security Council today praised the European Union for deploying the French-led emergency force, which "helped avoid a humanitarian tragedy" in the troubled northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and was instrumental in stabilizing the flashpoint town of Bunia.

The United Nations refugee agency today joined other aid groups on an assessment mission north-east of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, where fresh rebel violence has reportedly displaced tens of thousands of terrified people.

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.