58 nations failed to report on terrorism: United Nations

A UNSC panel has named 58 nations that failed to meet an Oct 31 deadline to submit reports on steps they are taking to stop terrorism.

A United Nations Security Council committee has named 58 countries that failed to meet an October 31 deadline to submit reports on measures they are taking to stop supporting, financing and providing sanctuary to terrorists.

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Almost all are developing nations in Africa, Asia and the Pacific islands.

The committee is monitoring what all 191 UN member states are doing to implement a security council resolution adopted less than three weeks after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The resolution required UN members to adopt legislation and take administrative measures and other steps to halt all support for terrorists.

The counter-terrorism committee, initially chaired by Britain and now chaired by Spain, received initial reports from all member states. These were analysed with the assistance of outside experts who could use terrorism-related intelligence from governments in their assessment of compliance.

Countries then received follow-up letters identifying gaps, making recommendations and seeking responses by specific deadlines. All those that responded received a third letter, seeking additional information.

In a letter to the council circulated on Wednesday, Spain's UN ambassador Inocencio Arias said that "a total of 58 states have failed to meet the October 31 deadline for the submission of outstanding second and third reports."