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UN General Assembly Debate Enters Third Day


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Debate will continue for a third day Friday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, with more than 20 world leaders scheduled to speak.

Among those scheduled to speak are several African leaders, including Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast, and Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Venezuela President Hugo Chavez spoke Thursday. Mr. Netanyahu said Iran poses a threat to world peace, and that its "fanatic" regime should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

Mr. Chavez called on U.S. President Barack Obama to lift the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba. He also called for the removal of U.S. troops from Colombia's military bases, saying the arrangement is a threat to peace in South America.

Madagascar's self-proclaimed leader Andry Rajoelina had been scheduled to speak Thursday, but did not address the assembly . Other speakers included Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who took office last week.

During the opening session Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama called for a "new era of engagement" among nations, saying the United States cannot solve global problems alone.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi denounced the U.N. Security Council, defended the Taliban, and critiqued historic events during a rambling, 96-minute speech.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave a lengthy discourse on religion, humanity, and what he sees as the world's ills - mainly capitalism, Zionism and liberalism.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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