Thursday, April 14 2005 11:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Terming terrorism the "most serious" threat to peace and security, India has asked the international community to join hands to root out the scourge and sought early adoption of a New Delhi-sponsored comprehensive convention against terrorism.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly yesterday (Apr 13, 2005) after it adopted a Russian-sponsored global treaty aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism, Indian Ambassador to UN Nirupam Sen warned that terrorism undermines the very foundation of freedom and democracy.

Terrorism endangers the continued existence of open and democratic societies, Sen said. He expressed confidence that the "brutal anti-humanism" of terrorists doom them to "certain failure".

India attaches high priority to the formulation of international legal standards to combat terrorism, Sen said and stressed on the need for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism sponsored by New Delhi.

Sen asked member States to demonstrate their "resolve and flexibility" to bring negotiations to a conclusion in the interest of fighting terrorism worldwide.

He also referred to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call to all member States to conclude negotiations on the convention before the start of 2006 session of the General Assembly.

The international treaty on terrorism, adopted by the world body yesterday, makes it a crime to possess radioactive material or device with the intention of causing death or serious injury.