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BBC WROLD NEWS I’M NICK KELLY.

The United Nations Security Council has introduced sanctions against North Korea to punish it for its reported nuclear weapon’s test and to demand/ that it give up its nuclear program. President Bush said the sanctions were a tough message that showed the world was united against North Korea's nuclear weapon's plans. From the UN in New York Andy.Cliker has more details.

The resolutions include a ban on imports of military items will allow inspections of ships going to and from North Korea and a travel ban for those working on weapons and missiles programs. As a concession to the Russians and Chinese the measures will no longer be backed by military force and both countries' ambassadors advise caution for those member states who will now impose the sanctions. President Bush welcomed the Security Council's vote.

North Korea has condemned the measures as orchestrated by the United States and said it would regard further pressure from the Americans as a declaration of / war. Its ambassador to the United Nations Pag Geu Yang accused the Security Council of double standards.

It is gangsterlike for the Security Council to have adopted today a coercive resolution while neglecting a nuclear threat and moves for sanctions and pressure of the United States. This clearly testifies that the Security Council has completely lost its impartiality.

The people of Ecuador are electing a new president on Sunday with the opinion polls suggesting a close unexpected race between the main contenders. There are 13 candidates but a BBC correspondent in the country says only four of them have a realistic chance of winning, they include former Economy Minister Rafael Correa a leftist ally of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the country's richest man Alvaro Noboa who is standing for centre right. The vote comes after a period of instability last year President Lucio Gutierrez was forced from office by angry crowds and our correspondent says many voters are still fed up with politicians in the country which has huge oil wealth but where half of the population lives in poverty.

Sweden's new Trade Minister Maria Borelius says she is resigning over / allegations of tax evasion after just one week in office. Mrs Borelius's acknowledged she had hired nannies without paying taxes and employer's fees. There've also been allegations that her wealthy family avoided property taxes. Lash Bowanga has more.

The centre right government of Fredrik Reinfeldt has been in power for only one week but already it is mired in scandals. Mr. Reinfeldt told Swedish radio on Saturday that the Trade Minister Maria Borelius has said she would resign after having to admit she paid cash to her children's nannies. On Friday, new allegations / emerged over her failure to pay property tax on one of her houses. Earlier she had admitted do not paying her TV license fee for many years. Then it emerged that both the minister of culture and the Immigration minister had not paid their TV licenses either.

You are listening to the World News from the BBC.

The Sudanese government and two eastern rebel group have signed a peace agreement to end a decade-long conflict . The signing ceremony was held in the neighboring Eritrea which has mediated their cord . Addressing the meeting President Omar Ahmed El-Basher described the day as an example of African solving African problem without foreign help. John Lefitia reports.

Unlike Sudan's other peace agreements in the south and west the International Community and in particular the United Nations have been excluded from this process. Eritrea, Sudan's tiny eastern neighbor has hosted and mediated for months of talks. The eastern front consists of two rebel groups: The Beja Congress and Rashaida Free Lions. Both complained that as in Darfur to the west, Sudan's east has suffered from neglect and undrained investment. It's thought that in return for signing eastern rebel leaders have been given ministerial positions in Cartoon and the promise of investment in the region.

Thousands of people have attended the ceremony in India which hundreds of low caste Hindus or Dalits converted to Buddhism and Christianity. The Rally in the central town of Nagpur was one of series of such mass-conversions being held across India in protest to the injustices of the traditional caste system which has led discrimination against the Dalits so untouchables. Those who chose to become Christians were publicly baptised . Several Indian states governed by the Hindu nationalist party the BJP have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult. During the demonstration some protestors burned copies of the new legislation saying that it infringed their right to choose any religion freely.

And that's the latest BBC World...