In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the international community to focus on stabilising the situation in Lebanon.
Briefing reporters on Wednesday, Annan said that most leaders in the Middle East told him, during his recent trip to the region, they felt "Lebanon was a wake up call."
 “We should really focus on stabilizing the situation in Lebanon and the relations between Lebanon and Israel, but not stop there, build on from there to deal with other conflicts on the region.”
Annan returned from a two-week trip to the Middle East late last week.
His main goal was to get leaders to support a Security Council resolution imposing a cease-fire in Lebanon, but he said he discussed other issues such as the ongoing talks over the Iranian nuclear issue with the leaders he met.
Annan said he found "lots of anxiety" in the Middle East about Iran's nuclear issue, with leaders telling him they could not "afford another crisis in this region."
"I think I do note there is a slight shift in the cense that they are now saying that 'let's negotiate, suspension will be on the agenda, and maybe possible during the negotiations."
Annan also appealed to the Iranians to "work with the international community, and lift the clouds of uncertainty surrounding their programme."
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Director: Liu Chi