Blair denies covert deal with Bush on Iraq

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Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has denied striking a “covert” deal to invade Iraq with George W. Bush at a private meeting in 2002 at the President’s ranch in Texas. Blair told the Iraq inquiry in London there was no secret about what was said – that Saddam Hussein had to be dealt with and “the method of doing that is open”. Laura Lynch has been watching the inquiry. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Marco Werman speaks with former Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi
• Timeline: Tony Blair on Iraqi WMD
• Tony Blair’s closest aide defends choices on Iraq

Britain’s inquiry into the Iraq war

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The UK government’s former top lawyer has said he initially believed a second UN resolution was necessary to justify invading Iraq in 2003, but changed his mind a month before the war. Critics of the war have long suspected that former Attorney General Peter Goldsmith was pressured to change his mind by then Prime Minister Tony Blair (pictured). Blair is expected to testify before the inquiry on Friday. Laura Lynch reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Timeline: Tony Blair on Iraqi WMD
• Tony Blair’s closest aide defends choices on Iraq

North Korea’s strategic arsenal

North Korea says it will continue to co-operate with the United States on ending its nuclear program and agrees that stalled talks need to resume. The country’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang would work with Washington to “narrow remaining differences”. In June, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, following a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans in defiance of previous UN resolutions.

British inquiry into Iraq war continues

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Tony Blair’s view on regime change in Iraq “tightened” after a private meeting of the British Prime Minister with President George W. Bush in 2002, the UK’s former ambassador to the United States has testified. Sir Christopher Meyer said no officials were at the Bush family ranch talks but the next day Blair mentioned regime change for the first time. The World’s Laura Lynch continues her coverage of the UK inquiry into the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Download MP3 (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

• BBC coverage
• Laura Lynch on day 2 of the inquiry
• FAQ Britain’s Iraq inquiry
• US investigation of Iraq war

Iran ‘concealed nuclear facility’

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Iran has been accused of concealing a second uranium enrichment plant in defiance of international calls for transparency over its nuclear plans. The US, UK and France demanded UN inspectors be given immediate access to the facility. Iran revealed the existence of the plant to the UN watchdog, saying it was not yet operational and would only be used for nuclear energy. Tehran has previously acknowledged it has one enrichment plant, at Natanz (pictured in AP photo). Katy Clark reports.

• BBC coverage
• Iran’s key nuclear sites
• Background Brief: Nuclear Standoff with Iran

Nuclear disarmament

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The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for nuclear disarmament, in a session chaired by President Barack Obama. Many organizations and networks have been campaigning for complete nuclear disarmament for decades. The World’s Jeb Sharp takes a look at these movements and where they are now. Download MP3 (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage of today’s UN resolution
• FAQ: Nuclear disarmament

The state of nuclear non-proliferation

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In his first speech before the General Assembly, the President also addressed nuclear non-proliferation and related security issues. The World’s Katy Clark gives us an update on the issue of containing the spread of nuclear weapons. Download MP3

• FAQ nuclear disarmament
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons