Putin focuses on terrorism, avoids Iraq controversy

Russian President Vladimir Putin avoided disputes over Iraq at the United Nations yesterday but sought to galvanise the world to take more robust steps to halt the spread of dangerous weapons and fight terror.

With a prudent eye to an upcoming summit with US President George W. Bush, Putin kept out of the controversy over how quickly sovereignty should be restored in postwar Iraq - an issue that has sharply divided the United States and France.

Instead, the Russian president switched the focus to the need for tougher action to fight terror acts, whether in New York, Baghdad or rebel Chechnya, telling the UN General Assembly it was "duty-bound to become a basis for the global anti-terrorist coalition."

And in other comments certain to find favour in the Bush camp, Mr Putin called for increased efforts to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

"These include further universalisation of the existing nonproliferation regimes, the strengthening of international verification instruments and the introduction of safe technology in nuclear production and energy," Mr Putin said.

He made no specific mention of Russia's nuclear energy cooperation with Iran, which has come under fierce attack by the Bush administration that sees it as a cover for Tehran's secret plans to build a nuclear weapon.

Mr Putin also resurrected an old Russian call for a comprehensive agreement among the space powers to avoid the militarisation of outer space.

But he dropped from his prepared text, distributed to all delegates, a pledge that Russia would not be the first to deploy offensive weapons in outer space. No reason was given.

The Kremlin leader, who is expected to seek a second term in power next March, was clearly at pains to avoid discord during his US trip, which was intended to also lure greater investment to Russia.