United Nations Radio

World leaders open their annual debate this morning facing top geopolitical issues such as Iran's nuclear programme, human rights abuses in Darfur, the Middle East peace process and the crisis in Georgia.

But that's not all. There are other major issues such as the global financial crisis, climate change, the global food and fuel crises and the progress or lack thereof in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

More than 120 heads of state and government are attending the General Assembly's debate which is expected to continue into next week.

Among the leaders slated to address today's debate are United States President George Bush, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

As has been the tradition -Brazil will be the first speaker before the General Assembly.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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