Bush lashes out at enemies in last UN address

Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent

President George Bush used his final address to the United Nations today to deliver stinging rebukes to foes from Russia to Iran, accusing them of violating the core values of the world body.

A packed chamber gathered to hear Mr Bush, a long term sceptic of the multilateral body, compare its founding charter to the religious texts of the Bible, Koran and Torah.

Nations like Syria and Iran violated the principles enshrined in that "noble pledge" by continuing to sponsor terrorism, Mr Bush declared, as he called on all member countries to defend the charter.

"A few nations - regimes like Syria and Iran - continue to sponsor terror, yet their numbers are growing fewer and they're growing more isolated from the world," he said. "Like slavery and piracy, terrorism has no place in the modern world."

Iran also came under fire for its nuclear programme, along with North Korea. Mr Bush is to push hard for sanctions to be imposed on both countries in punishment for their failure to comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

Russia's delegation looked startled to hear its name included in such dubious company when Mr Bush blasted Moscow for violating the charter's safeguards of "the equal rights of nations large and small" when it invaded its tiny neighbour, Georgia.

"We must stand united in our support of the people of Georgia," Mr Bush told the assembly, which included President Mikhail Saakashvili. The United Nations charter sets forth the equal rights of nations large and small. Russia's invasion of Georgia was a violation of those words."

Mr Bush's speech was a call to arms for multilateral organisations to rally against the scourge of terrorism, but the sharp focus he had hoped to bring on Iran became diluted by the need to address the turmoil in the global financial market and uncertainties surrounding Washington's Wall Street bailout plans.

As squabbling continues over whether Congress will approve the $700 billion package, Mr Bush sought to reassure world leaders that the deal would go through quickly and that the financial crisis would be contained.

The president said he was aware other nations were watching to see how the United States manages the meltdown, and said he was confident that Congress would act "in the urgent timeframe required" to prevent broader problems.