Saturday, May 19, 2007

05/19/07

* Palestinians agree Gaza ceasefire The rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah have agreed another ceasefire as they attempt to end an upsurge in fighting in the Gaza Strip.

* IAF targets Hamas installations in Gaza The IAF carried out several targeted attacks on Hamas installations throughout the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning and Friday night, destroying several weapons-making facilities and killing at least three people.

* Blair's tribute to troops in Iraq Tony Blair made an emotional tribute to British troops during his seventh and probably final visit to Iraq as PM.

* 'Gaza clashes could hurt aid to PA' The bloodshed in Gaza threatens to keep badly needed economic aid from the Palestinians who already suffer from rising unemployment and a lack of basic services.

* India on alert after mosque attack Hundreds of police in riot gear have deployed throughout the mostly deserted streets of Hyderabad after a bomb blast at a mosque.

* Contentious EU - Russia Summit Ends Amid Disagreements Russian and European Union leaders clashed over human rights issues Friday at a contentious summit where police prevented opposition protests from taking place.

* Iran says US should quit Iraq to curb 'terror' Iran said on Saturday the United States should withdraw its troops from Iraq because their presence is causing "terrorist" activity in the war-torn country.

* New Concerns on Russia Media Freedom More than a half-dozen journalists with the Russian News Service, which produces reports that reach millions of radio listeners, resigned to protest the new pro-Kremlin management's policy that at least 50 percent of coverage must be positive.

* EU barters with Serbia as Kosovo tensions mount The EU has rewarded the new moderate government in Serbia with prospects of restarting EU integration talks.

* 'A country cannot be wiped off the map' Mohammad Larijani, an Iranian politician and scientist whose brother Ali is his country's top nuclear envoy, said that Iran was not bent on wiping Israel out.