NEW YORK, Sept 8: Ten heads of state, including President Pervez Musharraf, will address Columbia University’s World Leaders Forum beginning on Sept 12. Others who will speak at the forum include Iraqi President Jalal Talibani, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Indonesian President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono.

President Musharraf will speak on the issue of “Meeting the challenge of peace and development” on Sept 16.

“The forum will commence with a series of special symposia examining key United Nations priorities, especially the need to deal with poverty and hunger in the developing world,” said Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University.