Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has invited other nations to invest in Iraq, saying the country is restoring its strength after decades of internal and external war and international sanctions.

Mr. Talabani spoke during the third day of debate at the United Nations General Assembly. He said Iraq is working on legislation to protect investors and their capital.

He also called on Iran and Turkey to stop bombing Kurdish areas of Iraq. Those two countries say they are targeting Kurdish separatists operating from Iraqi territory.

The leader of the new African nation of South Sudan is scheduled to speak later Friday, as well as the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

General debate continues on Saturday and Monday through Friday of next week.

On Thursday, in one of the most controversial of the speeches, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad harshly criticized the United States, Israel, and the West, accusing them of provoking wars, causing worldwide recession, and spreading “totalitarianism.”

His statements provoked a walkout by delegations from the United States, France, and more than two dozen other nations. The speech came after several hundred protesters rallied outside the United Nations, voicing their displeasure over Mr. Ahmadinejad's presence at the General Assembly.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged world leaders to put pressure on Israel to achieve peace with the Palestinians and to not allow them to act above the law.