Protests herald UN General Assembly

New York, US – Protesters have besieged the UN headquarters in New York, US, as businesses and residents brace for next week’s gathering of world leaders.

The 64th session of the UN General Assembly began on Tuesday, but the leaders would meet between 23 and 30 September to debate on global issues.

The Pan African News Agency (PANA) reported that the protesters, cutting across nationalities, have set up tents and banners opposite the UN headquarters’ complex.

A group of Cameroonians, who gathered at the Dag Hammerskjold Park, called on the UN to prevail on President Paul Biya to resign, having spent more than 25 years in power.

The Cameroonians carried placards and distributed leaflets, saying “Paul Biya, We Are Tired of You” and “Cameroon Needs New Democratic Leaders”.

Also, a group of Iranian-Americans said they wanted the UN Secretary-General to bar Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad from addressing the General Assembly.

They also distributed flyers and displayed various posters and banners condemning Ahmedinejad and Iran’s nuclear programme.

Another group, which positioned itself at the entrance of the visitors’ gate to the UN building, condemned terrorism and urged the leaders to take more action to deal with those behind the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region.

“We want our message, which is a message of peace, love and democracy to be heard,” one of the protesters, Angela Mostashari, told PANA.

Also, some NGOs have placed banners opposite the UN headquarters, urging world leaders to work together to save the global effects of climate change.

Some Asians also filled the vicinity near the UN buildings, calling on the world body to end hunger and poverty in parts of the world.

Meanwhile, business owners and residents have described the annual meeting as a “headache”, as police and other security operatives gear up to barricade most of the streets leading to the UN headquarters.

Intermittent blockades are already in place as police lines and concrete blocks have been placed ot the streets adjoining the UN headquarters.

However, the biggest traffic hold-ups are likely to come next Wednesday, when both US President Barack Obama and Ahmadinejad will address the Assembly.

Obama would deliver his speech in the morning while the Iranian President would take the podium in the afternoon.

Protests and peaceful demonstrations are common features of the yearly assembly of world leaders in New York in September.

New York – 18/09/2009

Pana