Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this afternoon left for the United States where he will be taking part in the 69th United Nations general assembly to be held in New York.

More than 140 heads of state or government will be discussing global issues such violence in Syria and Iraq, the volatile situation in Ukraine, the disorder in Libya and the situation in Gaza.

Another subject to be debated is battle against the Ebola virus which is having humanitarian, economic and social consequences.

In New York, Dr Muscat will be taking part in a summit on climate change which aims to mobilise political will that will hopefully lead to an agreement that will also generate ambitious steps to curb dangerous emissions.

Dr Muscat, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister George Vella, will have bilateral meetings with various countries and will be one of the prime ministers to lead a meeting on the reform of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Dr Muscat will also be meeting with the Maltese community in New York and later fly to San Francisco for a meeting with the Maltese community there.