Poverty takes centre stage on day two of the UN’s landmark summit. Last night leaders of the world’s major powers issued a formal appeal to world governments to adopt laws prohibiting the incitement of terrorism.

In a rare high level meeting of the Security Council, US President George Bush, called for action to prevent terrorism travelling across borders. “We have a solemn obligation to defend our citizens against terrorism, to attack terrorist networks and deprive them of any safe haven,” he said. The global initiative on terrorism was put forward by Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair. Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, backed the proposal saying criminal action must be condemned by all states without exception. Our common task is to create a truly solid front against this evil,” he said. “Any attempts to condone terrorism, to flirt with terrorists, to use them for political purposes must be condemned unanimously,” Putin added. The summit of some 150 leaders opened after UN ambassadors reached a watered-down deal on reform plans. With two days to go the UN is putting a brave face on things but it is far from a happy family, as the negotiations to forge this 60th anniversary package have highlighted divisions between its members.

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