Bush urges UN to tackle extremists

Updated 15.49 Tue Sep 25 2007

Keywords: 62nd General Assembly, President George W Bush, Cuba

US President George W Bush has urged the United Nations to work together to defeat extremists.

In a wide-ranging speech on human rights at the UN's 62nd General Assembly in New York, Mr Bush said the "long rule of a cruel dictator" was coming to an end in Cuba and that innocent civilians were suffering in Sudan.

Mr Bush urged UN member states to liberate people from "poverty and despair" through trade and investment

Mr Bush said the US would tighten economic sanctions against Burma's military rulers and their financial backers, and continue to support the efforts of humanitarian groups working there.

He also said the behaviour of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe was an "assault" on its people and the US must insist on the freedom of its people.

Later, the president called for better education standards and said education helps to weaken the appeal of violent ideologies.

He also urged UN member states to liberate people from "poverty and despair" through trade and investment.

Mr Bush said top trading nations must reduce trade barriers and there was an "historic chance to open markets around the world" by concluding successful Doha trade talks and seize the "once in a generation" opportunity.

He told the UN his goals could not be achieved overnight, nor "without the reform of this institution".

Mr Bush said the US was committed to a "strong and vibrant UN" but added: "The UN must reform its own human rights council."

He also called for reform of the UN security council, and said Japan should have a seat at the table.