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Host Bob Edwards talks to Newsweek Reporter Donatella Lorch about the UN embargo on diamond purchases from the rebels fighting to overthrow Sierra Leone's government. The UN hopes the ban will cut funding to the civil war, which has caused thousands of deaths in the West African country. Lorch says that implementing the embargo will be difficult for a variety of reasons.

Trevor Rowe reports from the United Nations that as leaders of the world gather for the 50th anniversary meeting of the General Assembly, nations are questioning whether the UN's peacekeeping operations are on track...or outmoded.

Today, Israeli troops shelled the headquarters a battalion of U-N peacekeeping troops in South Lebannon. The compound was filled with dozens of refugees. At least seventy-four people are reported dead and many others wounded. Robert Siegel talks with U-N spokesman Timur (TEE-more) Goksel (GOCK-sull) from his office in Southern Lebanon about the shelling. Mr. Goksel describes the compound that was hit and the refugees who were seeking shelter there.

Today, Margot Adler dipped into the smorgasbord of protests surrounding the UN Millennium Summit in New York. More than 91 demonstrations were scheduled over the three days of the meeting. Adler visited with protesters including some from Iran and Togo, and everywhere there was music by demonstrating members of China's Falun Gong sect.

Reporter Jennifer Glasse reports from Kinshasa on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan's announcement today that he was withdrawing a team of investigators who have been probing massacres of Rwandan refugees in the Congo. The team has encountered persistent obstacles while attempting to gather information about Hutu refugee killings.

A day after allegations surfaced that Britain's intelligence tapped the phones of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan prior to the war in Iraq, Tony Blair still has not confirmed or denied the accusations. Nearly everyone agrees that spying on U.N. officials would be illegal. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

The United Nations begins a special session on AIDS Monday in New York. The conference will call for governments and NGOs to contribute $10 billion annually to AIDS treatment and prevention programs. Lisa Simeone speaks with Thoraya Obaid, head of the U.N. Population Fund, about cultural considerations that come into play when dealing with reproductive and sexual activity.

NPR's Ann Cooper reports that the United Nations is taking short-term security measures to more carefully screen mail and trying to make long-term security plans. But specialists in terrorism say bombs sent through the mail are hard to stop. Letter bombs addressed to an Arabic-language newspaper were disarmed at U-N headquarters in New York yesterday.

NPR's Ann Cooper reports from the United Nations on the signing today of a treaty banning nuclear testing. The United States was the first to sign the treaty and following the signing, President Clinton delivered his annual address to the U.N. General Assembly. He called for all countries to get toughter on terrorists and drug traffickers.

For years, Japan has been trying to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. NPR's Eric Weiner reports that the current Japanese government is pushing even harder. They believe that Japan's chances have now improved, due in part to its greater engagement in the international community.