UN chief backs ME nuke meet

UN leader Ban Ki-moon threw his support Thursday behind a conference aimed at creating a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, urging all countries in the region to attend it.
Finland is ready to host the meeting in Helsinki in mid-December, which Ban hailed as a "unique opportunity for all states of the region to collectively enhance their security," the secretary-general's office said.
The UN leader also welcomed a commitment from the Arab League to consider the conference "in a serious and constructive manner."
Neither Israel nor Iran have said they plan to attend the gathering.