New York Mayor Mr Rudolph Giuliani has appealed to the UN General Assembly to hold nations accountable for supporting terrorism, saying the September 11th attacks on the United States left the world body "no room for neutrality."
"The evidence of terrorism's contempt for life and the concept of peace is lying beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center, less than two miles from where we meet today," he said in a speech opening a five-day debate on a long-term global strategy against terrorism.
"Look at that destruction, that massive, senseless cruel loss of human life. And then I ask you to look in your hearts and recognize that there is no room for neutrality on the issue of terrorism. You're either with civilization or with terrorists," he said.
Mayor Giuliani, who has been widely hailed for his leadership following the attacks was the first New York mayor to address the General Assembly since 1952, when Mayor Vincent Impellitteri spoke at the opening of the UN compound on New York's East River.
"Our home is your home," UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan said in welcoming Mr Giuliani. "This attack has wounded the entire world. But shared adversity has brought New York City and the United Nations closer together than ever before."
The General Assembly is meeting three days after the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution requiring all 189 UN-member nations to deny money, support and sanctuary to terrorists.
It was introduced and approved in just over 24 hours by the security council, reflecting Washington's wide support as it leads a global campaign to pursue those responsible for the attacks, and any nation that harbours them.
Under the resolution, all countries must make the "willful" financing of terrorism a criminal offence, immediately freeze terrorist-related funds and prevent movement of individuals and groups suspected of having terrorist connections.
Nations must also deny terrorists any "safe haven" and speed the exchange of information, especially on the actions and movements of terrorists.
AP