UN adopts global counter-terrorism plan

The UN General Assembly adopted on Friday a global strategy designed as a unique instrument to enhance national, regional and international efforts, based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, to combat terrorism.
The strategy approved by the 92-member Assembly includes plan of action, measures to prevent and combat terrorism and steps to build capacities of states to fight the scourge.

The strategy, originally prepared by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and modified during discussions by diplomats at various levels, will be launched at the high-level segment of its annual session beginning September 19.
It calls for extraditing or prosecuting any person who supports, facilitates or attempts to participate in the financing, planning or perpetration of terrorist acts or provides them safe haven.

However, immediately after the strategy was approved, Arab and Israeli diplomats clashed over failure of the strategy to take into account their concerns.
Arab nations, which took the floor to express their reservations, lamented that groups like Palestinians which were fighting for "liberation of their territories" were not exempted.
This prompted Israel to criticise Syria and Iran for their failure to rein in groups, which commit terrorism against the Jewish state.