NCRI - Pope Benedict has called for an "honourable solution" to the nuclear crisis with Iran in his first Easter message.

He made his appeal for world peace in his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" message to nearly 100,000 people St Peter's Square in Rome.

The Pope, who marks the first anniversary of his election on Wednesday, used his speech to draw attention to the problems facing the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

In a clear reference to Iran, he said: "Concerning the international crises linked to nuclear power, may an honourable solution be found for all parties, through serious and honest negotiations."

In another part of the speech, the Pope defended Israel's right to exist, a passage which appeared to be an indirect criticism of statements by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian President, that the Jewish state should be eliminated.

But he also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

He said: "May the international community, which re-affirms Israel's just right to exist in peace, assist the Palestinian people to overcome the precarious conditions in which they live and to build their future, moving towards the constitution of a state that is truly their own."