New York at the end of November.

They were joined by almost 30,000 fellow Baha'is from over 180 countries and representing more than 2,000 ethnic and tribal backgrounds.

Two sessions for 15,000 people at a time were held each day. This was the largest conference held to date.

1992 is a Holy Year for the Baha'is, being 100 years since the passing of their Founder, Prophet Baha'u'llah.

In a global satellite broadcast message, the international governing body said that only the application of "spiritual principles'' can provide solutions to the grave social problems facing the world today.

A special commemoration was held to honour the 200 Baha'is who it is estimated have been killed in Iran in recent years.

In a message to the Congress, President Bush noted that Baha'i teachings on religious tolerance, elimination of prejudice, equality of the sexes and universal peace embodied "the principles that all people of goodwill admire and support''.