United Nations, Sep 29 (IANS): The United Nations committee entrusted with helping countries tackle terrorism has voiced concern at the close connection between terrorists and transnational organized crime, including the illegal movement of nuclear, chemical, biological and other deadly materials.

After a day-long meeting here Wednesday, the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), chaired by India's Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri, stressed that despite "the real and significant achievements of the last 10 years," much remains to be done at the national, regional and international levels.

"We have a very strong system of international cooperation which has to be worked on," Puri told a news conference.

In an outcome document CTC said "terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security, as evidenced notably by the terrorist attacks carried out recently in various regions of the world and by terrorists' adaptation to, and misuse of new technologies, such as the Internet, for their communication, propaganda, financing, planning, recruitment and operational purposes."

It noted with concern "the close connection between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including trafficking of illicit drugs, money-laundering, illegal arms trafficking, and illegal movement of nuclear, chemical, biological and other potentially deadly materials."

Urging all to ensure zero-tolerance towards terrorism, it called for urgent action to prevent and combat the scourge by preventing those who finance, plan, facilitate or commit terrorist acts from using their respective territories and bringing them to justice.

"Terrorism is still as potent a threat today as it was 10 years ago," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Wednesday's opening session.

"Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives. Repeated attacks have had severe economic consequences and taken a toll on State stability and regional harmony."