Rebel News - Independent News and Analysis

A senior auditor at the United Nations has sharply criticized Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing him of leading the world body into an era of decline.

The former head of the United Nation's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) that battles internal corruption inside the organization issued a scathing assessment of the UN Secretary General's record on accountability.

Amnesty International has denounced world powers for uncontrolled transfer of weapons, saying it increases human rights violations and war crimes worldwide.

According to the report released on Monday, British, French, Chinese, Russian and US transport companies are transferring arms to countries where they can be used in violation of humanitarian law, AFP reported.

The world is marking the first Nelson Mandela International Day to commemorate the birthday of South Africa's first black president, who turns 92 on Sunday.

The United Nations had last year agreed to commemorate Mandela's birthday every year  to recognise the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's contribution to resolving conflicts and promoting race relations, human rights and reconciliation.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described as successful the seventh summit of the Group of Eight Developing Countries (D8), which he attended in Nigeria.

Ahmadinejad said the D8 summit in Abuja was successful and allowed Iran to clarify its position on various issues including its nuclear energy program.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the UN headquarters should be moved to a free land where its operations and decisions will not be undermined.

President Ahmadinejad, who was speaking at the end of the Group of Eight Developing Countries (D8) in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday, told reporters that the US imposes itself on international organizations like the United Nations and undercuts their efforts, IRNA reported on Friday.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet to discuss a draft declaration on the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship.

The UNSC was to meet late on Thursday to discuss the alleged sinking of the Cheonan by North Korea and issue a statement on the event, AFP reported.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has presented Tehran's suggestions for improving the performance of the Group of Eight Developing Countries (D8).

In his speech at the 7th summit of the D8, Ahmadinejad said the UN Security Council was dominated by veto-wielding nuclear-armed states, adding, “They enjoy immunity in global disputes, no country can lodge a complaint against them and they convict any state opposing them.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has joined international voices of opposition to the Israeli siege of Gaza, calling on Tel Aviv to change its strategy toward the impoverished strip.

Ban made the remarks at a closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.

A former president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to head the UN Human Rights Council's probe into Israel's deadly attack on a Gaza-bound aid convoy.

Renowned ICC judge and the Hague-based court's first president Philippe Kirsch of Canada has been involved in international investigations of war crimes and maritime terrorism in the past.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is in Nigeria to attend the council meeting of the foreign ministers of eight developing countries, known as the D8.

The council meeting of the foreign ministers will examine the final declaration to be later approved on the final day of the 7th D8 summit.