In addition to declaring May 31 as "World No-Tobacco Day," the WHO pledged to make a global ban on tobacco advertising a priority in an agreement to be negotiated by its 191 members.

"About 3.4 million people die from smoking each year and if a plan of action is not taken seriously from this moment, there will be at least 10 million deaths per year by 2030," said WHO head Gro Harlem Brundtland.

In addition to banning tobacco advertisements, Brundtland said preventing youth smoking is a top priority in the worldwide fight against smoking. "Tobacco companies are entering Asia and targeting the youngsters for their new market. It's the world community's duty to do their utmost to protect children from dying prematurely," she said.

Brundtland added that anti-smoking campaigns in certain countries have made an impact. "The tobacco market is starting to fall in Thailand and some developing areas because of public campaigns, because of education, because of advertising bans and because of their people's awareness of the dangers of tobacco," she said.

Brundtland said tobacco companies would be given the opportunity to present their views when the WHO meets in Geneva, Switzerland in October.

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