Madrid  - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has not renewed the mandate of Peter van Walsum, his personal envoy for Western Sahara, who was criticized by the Western Saharawi independence movement Polisario Front, the Spanish daily El Pais reported Thursday.

The Dutch diplomat, whose mandate expires this month, confirmed the report in an article he wrote for El Pais.

Van Walsum, 74, was appointed in 2005 as successor to former US secretary of state James Baker, who resigned in 2004 over the difficulties in solving one of the UN's longest-running conflicts.

New York  - UN Secreta

New York  - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned the series of terrorist attacks in Algiers.

"The secretary general extends his condolences to the people of Algeria and in particular, to the families of the victims," UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.

She said Ban called on the international community to support the efforts of the government of Algeria to combat terrorism.

Yangon  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon plans to visit Myanmar in December to discuss the country's political stalemate, his special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari disclosed Wednesday.

"Ban Ki-moon plans to come to Myanmar in the last week of December but this time the trip will be focused on politics," said Nyan Win, the spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).

United Nations, Aug 19: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is said to be ready to intervene for resolving the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, provided both India and Pakistan agree to his role.

US spokesman Farhan Haq said this here last evening while addressing press persons.

“Our good offices are always available as long as they are agreed to by both or all the parties to conflict,” the Daily Times quoted Haq as saying.

New York - Unit