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Iran's initial step to restart research into uranium enrichment dismays the United States, Europe and Russia. All are trying to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The next move appears to be an appeal to the U.N. Security Council.

In the statement, the leaders outlined four commitments including establishing relations, working toward denuclearization and recovering POW/MIA remains.

France, Denmark and Indonesia pledge to contribute to a United Nations mission to Darfur, Sudan. The U.N. will send up to 26,000 peacekeepers to the region in an attempt to end the conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people in the last four years.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani says he will accept a caucus-elected government in July if the United Nations guarantees direct elections will be held in Iraq by 2005. Sistani, Iraq's most prominent Shiite cleric, had previously insisted that elections take place by June 30, the date targeted by the United States for a transfer of power to an Iraqi government. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair meets with President Bush Friday. British officials say Blair hopes to flesh out a role for the United Nations in Iraq's transition. Blair has faced criticism at home for having little influence when it comes to Iraq -- despite Britain's 10,000 troops there. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

President Bush installs John Bolton as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, making a recess appointment to circumvent the Senate, where Democrats blocked approval of the nominee. Bolton will be able to serve until a new Congress forms in 2007.

The United Nations appeals for more help for Sudanese refugees, who have fled into the desert in neighboring Chad to escape civil war and persecution by government-backed militias. The humanitarian crisis is severe and likely to be made far worse by the approaching rainy season. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Dr. Jennifer Leaning, professor of international health at Harvard.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in Sri Lanka to discuss how to handle the quarter-million people displaced by that island nation's 25-year civil war. The government said more than 6,200 of its forces were killed and almost 30,000 wounded in the final three years of its war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended last weekend.

President Bush makes new charges against Iraq in his State of the Union address, saying there's evidence Iraq tried to acquire nuclear materials and has links to terrorists. U.S. allies and U.N. arms inspectors are eager to hear the evidence. Hear from NPR's Tom Gjelten, NPR's Lynn Neary and U.N. chief nuclear weapons inspector Mohamed ElBaradei.

Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix tells the U.N. Security Council there is not much new information about arms programs in Iraq's 12,000-page declaration of weapons. A U.S. official says Iraq is in "material breach" of international obligations. Britain takes a cautious approach on the need for war. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.