New York - The world's richest governments should draw on their political will to assist poor countries as the amount of bail- out money in developed countries have far exceeded the funds wealthy nations have provided for development in poor ones, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday.

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the Kosovo government to show flexibility and agree to a revamped UN mission there following its secession from Serbia.

A six-point plan to reorganize the UN mission was accepted by Belgrade, but opposed by Pristina. Ban had decided to change the UN mission's mandate in Pristina and draw down its personnel after Pristina declared independence from Serbia.

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday ahead of meetings at UN headquarters on religion and peace that the opportunity it would provide for Arab and Israeli leaders to meet was "quite unique."

Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tipzi Livni were to find themselves in one room if not at the same table for dinner Tuesday with Ban.

A rare print of New York - The United Nations headquarters prepares to lock down one more time this year when the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and US President George W Bush and Israeli President Shimon Peres attend a two-day conference on religion and peace, it was announced Monday.

Close to 70 government delegations will meet Wednesday and Thursday in the UN General Assembly for the "promotion of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation of peace."

Nairobi/Goma - The UN childrens emergency fund UNICEF warned Monday of the danger of a cholera catastrophe in the conflict-ridden North Kivu region of eastern Congo, with international relief groups saying their work was being hampered by the security situation.

UNICEF coupled the warning with a demand that safe access to the region's refugees be guaranteed.

Nairobi/Goma - The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) condemned "war crimes" in the country, as Pope Benedict XVI called for joint effects to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

MONUC head Alan Doss condemned militias fighting in the DR Congo's east, accusing them of committing "war crimes."