The World Council of Churches' (WCC) general secretary, the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has said that "one of the greatest problems facing the world today is religious extremism" - and that all faiths must be fully engaged in tackling it.

As the global food crisis continues to unfold and impact on the poorest, World Council of Churches general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has called on international institutions and governments to move into swift action.

The executive committee of the World Council of Churches has used the opportunity of its latest gathering in Switzerland to maintain its active concern with many of the world's trouble spot and most pressing humanitarian issues.

The WCC has honoured a former general secretary, Philip Potter, a Methodist from the West Indies who helped the churches take a high profile role in the struggle against apartheid and white minority regimes in southern Africa.