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Occupied Arab Territories in Political Turmoil;
 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenges world leaders to scale up efforts in the fight against AIDS; The International Labour Organization says more than 36 million workers have HIV; The Decolonization Committee is told there's a need for more support for political education in the dependent territories; The UN Resident Coordinator in the Eastern Caribbean says the Millennium Development Goals are an excellent tool for translating policies into practice; The International organization for Migration says trafficking may be contributing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean
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Suicide Bomb Raises Concern about Upcoming National Conference More than 60 Iraqis were killed in what has been called the worst attack in Iraq since the United States transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government. A suicide car bomber reportedly drove into a crowd of people outside a police recruiting center in Baqouba. The Director of the UN Media Division, Ahmad Fawzi, who was recently in Iraq, commented on the attack.
The attack comes just days before a national conference, set to begin this weekend, is to choose an interim national assembly. Marie Okabe, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said Mr. Annan is calling for the conference to be representative of Iraqi society. "The
Secretary-General strongly believes that a more inclusive and transparent
National Conference will contribute to stability in Iraq, and would
enhance the chances for a peaceful political transition. Creating
the conditions for a successful outcome to the Conference is, therefore,
more important than holding it on time."
UN Envoy to Afghanistan Outraged by Killing of Electoral Worker
Three Afghan female electoral workers were killed previously in two separate attacks in Nangarhar Province in June and early July. Today's attack came in the wake of the announcement by the international aid agency Medecins Sans Frontiers that it is withdrawing from Afghanistan because of deteriorating security situation in the run-up to the October polls.
Security Council Extends Arms Embargo against the Democratic Republic of the Congo The UN Security Council has renewed its arms embargo against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another year. The resolution adopted unanimously late on Tuesday says demands made by the Council last July as a condition for the lifting of the embargo have not been met. The Council reaffirmed these demands, which include allowing the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) freedom of movement to carry out its mandate, especially in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces. MONUC's monitoring mandate includes inspecting any transport vehicle using the sea and airports, and border crossings in the three provinces. The resolution also appeals to the DRC's neighbors not to violate the embargo by providing assistance to armed groups opposing the country's multi-party transitional government.
UNHCR questions proposed revisions of Swiss asylum law
"UNHCR said it was seriously concerned that the proposed restrictions, on access to a normal asylum procedure to persons who cannot submit valid travel or identity documents within 48 hours, could lead to breaches of the 1951 Convention." UNHCR
points out that in many cases, refugees cannot obtain papers before
they flee their homeland, or their papers are confiscated by authorities,
or destroyed by people-smuggling networks.
UN
Agencies Help Communities in Peruvian Andes Cope with Cold Snap UN agencies are bringing relief supplies to communities in the Andean mountains of Peru, affected by the worst frost and snow storms in 30 years. The World Food Programme says more than 17 thousand people are affected by severe food shortages, after their livestock were killed and crops were wiped out by the cold snap. WFP is distributing cereals, vegetable oil and sugar to the affected population in the Puno Department, with particular attention to pregnant and nursing mothers.
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"The
attack in Baqouba was a terrible tragedy. A bomb of this magnitude
will send shockwaves throughout not only the international community,
but first and foremost the citizens of Iraq themselves."
The
UN Envoy to Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, has expressed outrage at the
killing of an Afghan staff member and another person at a voter registration
site in Ghazni province. An explosive device went off on Wednesday
morning at the registration site located in a mosque in Belal Kheil
village. Seven other electoral workers were injured, two seriously.
The
UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has informed the Swiss government of its
concerns over new proposals to modify the national asylum law. The
agency said some of the proposals are focused on restricting access
to the asylum procedure and risk running counter to the spirit and
the letter of the 1951 refugee convention. UNHCR Spokesperson, Jennifer
Pagonis, said the agency has expressed particular reservations about
a proposal to limit the granting of humanitarian status only to refugees
with valid identity and travel documents.