Today's Top Stories (May 12, 2009)

UN Security Council urges Israel to back two-state solution
The United Nations Security Council on Monday pressed Israel to commit to the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and called for urgent efforts to achieve an overall Middle East peace settlement.
The 15-member council met yesterday to debate the Middle East peace process.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the situation on the ground could worsen without renewed efforts by both sides, as well as the international community.
Ahead of the meeting, Irans mission to the United Nations distributed a letter among the participants, rejecting comments made earlier by Britains Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Miliband had accused Tehran of interfering in Palestinian affairs, and abusing their pain and suffering.
Netanyahu says Israel wants peace talks to resume soon
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday assured Egypts President Hosni Mubarak of his commitment to Middle East peace talks, during talks at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Netanyahu said: We want, as soon as possible, to resume the peace talks with the Palestinians and I hope they will indeed resume in the coming weeks.
Netanyahu did not publicly endorse the creation of a Palestinian state, during his comments in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Mubarak reiterated Cairos call for a two-state solution, and said that Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land hindered the peace process.
Irans foreign minister: We will take new steps it the U.S. changes moves
Manouchehr Mottaki, Irans foreign minister, yesterday in an interview with the Bahraini newspaper, Albalad, welcomed what he referred to as Americas change of rhetoric toward Iran and announced Irans readiness to take new steps should the U.S. make practical changes in its policy towards this country.
According to the website of Irans Foreign Ministery, Mottaki in that interview told Albalad in that interview: If Washington takes practical steps towards Iran and shows that the policies of Americas government vis-à-vis Iran have changed, we also on our part would take new steps towards Americas government.
Mottaki emphasized however that problems cannot be solved with words alone, and for talks between Tehran and Washington new steps must be taken.

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