Iran controversy

The German Foreign Ministry has called on other European Union countries to join its walkout if Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust, or makes anti-Semitic statements in his speech at the annual debate of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

Last week the Iranian president called the Holocaust a lie during an anti-Israel rally in Tehran. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned Ahmadinejad's latest denial, calling him a disgrace to his country.

The Holocaust claimed the lives of over six million Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. Denying the genocide is a crime in Germany.

Ahmadinejad's speech will also be closely watched for any reference to the country's controversial nuclear programme. Many fear Iran is pushing for nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies this.

Precursor to direct nuclear negotations

The five permanent Security Council members plus Germany are due to meet Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on October 1.

Ahmadinejad told Associated Press in an interview that he expected "free and open" discussion of nuclear issues at next week's meeting. He stressed that his country would not negotiate on its own nuclear plans, saying that these not intended to produce nuclear weapons.

Some nations, including Germany, have called for stricter sanctions if Tehran continues to defy UN demands to freeze uranium enrichment.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Tuesday that he did not expect Russia and China would oppose Western powers if they call for new sanctions on Iran.

"I don't think that the Russians and Chinese will say ... never again," Solana told reporters when quizzed about a potential fourth round of sanctions. "There's not going to be a breaking of the group," he added.

Britain to reduce number of nuclear subs

The issue of nuclear non-proliferation takes center stage in New York on Thursday with US President Barack Obama chairing an unprecedented summit in the 15-member UN Security Council.

Britain's Prime Minister Brown is expected to signal his country's willingness to reduce its nuclear arsenal during that meeting.

Under the plans Britain would downsize the planned 20-billion-pound (US$33-billion) Trident modernization program from four submarines to three.

However, the number of missiles carried by the submarines is to remain the same with British government officials underlining that the country's maintenance of an independent nuclear deterrent remained "non-negotiable."

The move comes at a time when Britain is struggling with the fall-out of the economic crisis.

But British officials said the move was not aimed at cutting costs but to show leadership on nuclear non-proliferation.

"If we are serious about the ambition of a nuclear-free world we will need statesmanship, not brinkmanship," Brown will tell the UN, according to an aide.

Brown flew into New York on Tuesday to attend the UN General Assembly. He will travel on to Pittsburgh on Thursday for a two-day summit of G20 leaders.

nk/dpa/Reuters/AP/AFP

Editor: Trinity Hartman