United Nations: Media Mogul Ted Turner, who once called Christianity a "religion for losers," has joined two churches in the endeavour to raise $200 million to combat malaria in Africa where the disease kills an estimated one million people a year.

Turner's United Nations Foundation along with Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Lutheran World Relief intend to raise additional resources to enable the UN meet its Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) which seek to drastically reduce or eliminate several social and economic ills.

Turner, who has created the foundation with his own contribution of one billion dollars, asserted that he is great supporter of the world body which provides platform for the all "to give off anger". "Together, we are announcing a new initiative to contribute to the internationally agreed goal of eliminating malaria death," the CNN founder told reporters as also the UN General Assembly.

Asked about the contribution of the United States towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Turner said the country had heartily endorsed the programme and pledged to do its part. However, it is now in arrears to the tune of $2.1 billion with respect to its contributions to peacekeeping operations, and was again behind with its regular dues.

"Not only are we not meeting our moral obligations and obligations we made to the Millennium Goals, we are not paying dues in peacekeeping," he said, adding: "I guess we are too busy bombing the Iraqis to be able to afford to pay our dues."

Source : PTI