Few days before the United Nations General Assembly gathering, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon met the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi as the Iranian President was to leave for NY for the meeting.

Few days before the United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon met the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi as the Iranian President was to leave for NY for the meeting.

In their meeting in New York on Friday in the city of New York, Ban and Arabi discussed the Syrian crisis and the protests sweeping the Muslim world following the offensive film to Islam and Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) which was produced by extremist Jews and Christians in the US.

"They discussed first and foremost the situation in Syria, with its political impasse, widespread human rights abuses, and growing humanitarian crisis," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said of the talks.

Ban and al-Arabi also discussed protests across the Muslim world "following the posting of the irresponsible and provocative video on the Prophet Mohammed, which they condemned, while deploring the violence that ensued," Nesirky added.

The new UN envoy to Syria, al-Akhdar al-Ibtahimi also arrived in New York this weekend for talks with Ban on his recent visit to Damascus to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
 Ibrahimi, who will meet the UN Security Council on Monday, has yet to announce how he will press for an end to conflict in Syria.

AHMADINEJAD HEADING TO NEW YORK
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was to leave Tehran for New York on Saturday for the UN General Assembly, where he will deliver his final speech to the world gathering.

His speech this year was keenly awaited in the face of Iran's sharp nuclear program, and Israeli threats to launch pre-emptive strikes on the Islamic Republic.

Ahmadinejad is expected to make his remarks around Wednesday.