New York - The Middle East quartet charged with overseeing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process voiced confidence in the ongoing talks between the two sides toward a final resolution to the long conflict.
The quartet, made up of the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia, said that a "meaningful and results- oriented" process was underway and again called for both sides to reach a deal by the end of this year, in a statement following talks at the United Nations in New York.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she still believed a comprehensive agreement on a two-state solution was possible by the end of 2008, a goal first set in November 2007 at a US-hosted summit in Annapolis, Maryland.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday called for the strengthening of international cooperation to combat terrorism, adding that it was "vital" to bring its perpetrators, financiers and sponsors to justice.
New York - The world's major powers agreed on and submitted a new Security Council resolution Friday calling on Iran to halt its nuclear activities, but did not seek additional sanctions against the Tehran regime.
New York - India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Friday for expeditious negotiations to enlarge the UN Security Council, where India wants a permanent seat on a par with other nuclear powers.
New York - Israeli and Palestinian officials traded accusations over the failure to achieve peace in the region while Western powers sharply condemned Iran's threats against Israel during a series of meetings and speeches on the Middle East at the United Nations on Friday.
New York - The four hurricanes and tropical storms that hit Haiti back-to-back last month have caused extensive damage, reversing development by "several years," Haiti's President Rene Preval said Friday.
