UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon met with Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday, urging him to "engage constructively" with the international community on his country`s nuclear program.

Ban said in a statement he also stressed to the Iranian leader, whose re-election last year sparked widespread protests, "the importance of respecting fundamental civil and political rights."

Ban "hoped that Iran will engage constructively in negotiations with the E3+3 allowing a mutually acceptable agreement in conformity with relevant Security Council resolutions," the statement said.

He was referring to stalled talks between Iran and Britain, the United States, France, Germany, China and Russia over Tehran`s nuclear program, which Western powers believe is aimed at developing an atomic weapon.

BDST: 0910 HRS, September 20, 2010