U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday addresses the United Nations General Assembly, where he plans to say that violence is never acceptable.

Syria and the upheaval in the Middle East caused in part by an independently made American anti-Muslim video are expected to dominate this year's session in New York.

The White House says Mr. Obama will make it clear that the United States government rejects the video, but that the violence that raged outside American embassies across the Arab world in reaction is unacceptable.

The president also plans to say that the United States will never retreat from the world and will stand strongly for democratic values.

More than 120 world leaders will attend the General Assembly meeting to discuss and debate wars, political crises and humanitarian concerns.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says Syria will be on top of every leader's mind.

The world is deadlocked on how to deal with the civil war in Syria, which has killed more than 20,000 people, mostly civilians. Russia and China have vetoed tough sanctions against the Syrian government in the Security Council, and the United States has expressed no desire for military intervention.