UN summit gets only scaled-down reforms

Amid predictions of failure after six months of wrangling over a 39-page reform document, the leaders were to debate a slimmed-down text with many compromises over the competing interests of rich and poor nations.

The two sides will seek during the September 14-16 summit to paper over differences on fighting terrorism and global poverty while promoting human rights and preventing Rwanda-like genocides.

Gabon's Jean Ping, the president of the current General Assembly, has been leading crisis talks by a 33-member core group of member states to settle contentious issues.

The centrepiece of Annan's reform package to make the UN better able to meet 21st-century challenges -- a proposed enlargement of the UN Security Council -- has been shelved in the face of stiff opposition from the United States and China and disagreement among other countries.

So at Washington's suggestion, member states were haggling over seven issues: development, terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, genocide prevention, UN management reform and setting up a revamped, and more effective Human Rights Council and a peace-building commission.