UN Arms Trade Pact Stalls as Iran, N. Korea, Syria Object
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An international treaty regulating the $70 billion global arms trade was sidetracked after failing to get the unanimous support needed for adoption among more than 150 countries taking part in negotiations at the United Nations.
Iran, North Korea and Syria yesterday barred passage of proposed standards to block illegal exports of conventional weapons -- from small arms and missile launchers to tanks, warships and attack helicopters. Absent a consensus among countries at the treaty talks, the accord can be approved by a two-thirds majority in the 193-member General Assembly.