World leaders gathered for a UN summit on Friday approved a declaration on development, human rights, terrorism and global security despite reservation by some of the member states.

The declaration was considered much watered down from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's ambitious plan to make the 60-year-old organization more representative and better able to meet 21-century challenges.

The document commits government to achieving UN goals to combat poverty and creates a commission to help move countries from war to peace.

The endorsement came at the end of a three-day summit that brought together more than 170 leaders at the UN headquarters here.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2005)