Saturday, July 19, 2008

07/19/08

* US attends historic Iran meeting A senior United States official is taking part for the first time in international talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

* Iranian, EU negotiators to resume talks in two weeks Iran and the European Union's chief negotiators have agreed to resume talks on suspending uranium enrichment in two weeks.

* Sunni bloc rejoins Iraqi cabinet The main Sunni Muslim bloc in Iraq has rejoined the Shia-led government, in what correspondents called an important step for national reconciliation.

* Hizbullah won't rule out more abductions Hizbullah's deputy secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Kassem, would not rule out on Saturday the abduction of more Israeli soldiers.

* Spat between Jews and Muslims sours Saudi interfaith summit A groundbreaking interfaith conference this week ended on a sour note, with a political spat between Muslims and Jews that Saudi organizers wanted to avoid.

* Blair: Two states are only way to peace A two-state solution is the only way to solve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair said.

* Barroso admits he wants to be EU commission president for a second time European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has for the first time publicly admitted he wants a second term as head of the EU executive.

* Obama opens foreign tour in Kabul US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan, at the start of a high-profile international tour.

* Arabs seek exit strategy from Sudan war crimes crisis Arab foreign ministers held crisis talks on Saturday on how to deal with the International Criminal Court prosecutor's bid to arrest Sudan President Omar al-Beshir.

* Brown Says No `Artificial Timetable' for Iraq Troop Withdrawal U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would not set ``an artificial timetable'' for withdrawing British troops from Iraq, though progress toward a reduction is being made.

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