UN buildings clear because of odor

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- U.N. Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq says the U.N. building where the Security Council and the General Assembly were scheduled to meet have been evacuated because of a suspicious odor.

Other U.N. officials say the odor was caused by an apparent gas leak in the basement.

The temporary building on the north lawn of the complex was evacuated Tuesday, but staff and diplomats were allowed to return a few minutes later. The building is also where U.N. Security-General Ban Ki-moon has his offices.

The evacuation delayed a morning Security Council event involving 150 young people planned by U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, in her capacity as this month's council president.

U.N. officials say that the General Assembly and Security Council meetings are being moved to the North Lawn building.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

U.N. Deputy Spokesman Faran Haq says the U.N. building where the Security Council and the General Assembly were scheduled to meet have been evacuated because of a suspicious odor.

Other U.N. officials say the odor was caused by an apparent gas leak in the basement.

The temporary building on the north lawn of the complex, where U.N. Security-General Ban Ki-moon has his offices, was evacuated Tuesday, but staff and diplomats were allowed to return a few minutes later.

U.N. officials say that the General Assembly and Security Council meeetings are being moved to the North Lawn building.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects spelling of spokesman's name to Farhan rather than Faran. Minor edits. APNewsNow. For global distribution.)