James Bone, UN Correspondent for The Times, explains why so many leaders are gathering in New York over the next few days, and why there is a struggle between the US and developing nations for the future of the organisation.

What is this summit for?

The summit marks the 60th anniversary of the UN and five years after the Millennium summit that set ambitious goals for cutting poverty. It comes as the UN starts its annual debate in the 191-member General Assembly.

Is it just another talking shop?

This summit had ambitious plans to remake the UN for the 21st century. Two years of effort culminated, after last minute disputes, with agreement on Tuesday on a watered-down declaration. The text breaks new ground in some areas such as asserting that the international community had a "responsibility to protect" populations from genocide and ethnic cleansing, and pledging to create a new UN Human Rights Council and Peacebuilding Commission to help states recover from conflict. But most of the detail is left out and some subjects, such as disarmament and non-proliferation, are not tackled at all.

Who's there?

This was originally billed as the largest summit of world leaders in history, with 178 kings, presidents and prime ministers scheduled to attend. The latest count is down to 149 - including Tony Blair, George Bush, Israel's Ariel Sharon, Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez - which means it will probably around the same number as the UN's 50th anniversary summit. President Jacques Chirac of France had to cancel because of his health and will be represented by his Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin. Cuban leader Fidel Castro also expected to be a no-show.

What lies behind the rows?

The UN has suffered from deep splits since the September 11 terror attacks and the war in Iraq. The Americans are seeking to remake the organisation to address threats from terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as reforming its management in the wake of the Oil-for-Food scandal. But developing nations - particularly middle income nations who stand to gain little from new aid funding - want to keep the emphasis on development.

How has the Oil-for-Food scandal affected the summit?

The scandal has tarnished the UN's credibility, undercut the moral authority of Kofi Annan, and put UN staff in a funk. Last week's report by the Volcker commission put UN management reform squarely on the agenda. But developing countries are resisting pressure by the West to take some power away from the General Assembly, where they command a majority, to the UN secretary-general, who they fear will do the West's bidding.

What actually happens at these summits? Are all the deals done behind the scenes?

The real action at summits takes place in the so-called "bilaterals" where world leaders meet each other one-on-one in their hotel suites or in offices or lounges at the UN. With 149 world leaders in town, the combinations are mind-boggling. The world leaders sometimes also have unscheduled encounters at group events, such as the daily luncheon hosted by the UN secretary-general for visiting dignitaries, or the group photograph for which they pose.

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