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Sri Lankan security forces have captured a key Tamil tiger defence line after six days of intense fighting that left scores of rebel fighters dead.
Government troops took over a five-Kilometre long bunker line from Tamil rebels following a new thrust inside the island's north that began on Saturday.The defence ministry said despite the rebels’ latest resistance, troops captured the strategically important bunker line from Muhamalai to Kilaly in the Jaffna peninsula. Both the rebels and the troops are known to be maintaining several more defence lines and fall back positions in the event of a major push by either side.There was no immediate comment from the Tamil rebels on the latest military statement.
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Peru and China successfully concluded talks for a free-trade agreement that will strengthen ties between two of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Chinese president Hu Jintao is in the South American country for the Asia Pacific economic cooperation (APEC) summit and met with his Peruvian counterpart Alan Garcia in downtown lima. The pact would be China's second agreement with a resource-rich country in Latin America, whose exports it needs to fuel a roaring economy. The deal could be signed as early as March after final details are worked out. China and Chile signed a free-trade agreement three years ago.
Peruvian president Garcia expressed his enthusiasm over the accord. Garcia went on to award Hu with the Peruvian order of the sun military Honour.
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Jordan's King Abdullah held talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas two days after Israeli leaders made a secret visit to the kingdom.
The meeting took place at the kingdom's southern red sea resort of Aqaba, the official said as the palace declined to comment on this week's Jordanian-Israeli talks.According to Israeli public radio, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak made a secret visit to Jordan on Tuesday and met with the king. During the meeting the Jordanian king urged the Israeli leaders to refrain from launching a large-scale military operation in the Gaza strip.He told Israeli leaders that Israel cannot enjoy peace unless the Palestinians have security and their own state. The talks between king Abdullah and Abbas were meant to discuss means of pushing ahead with peace negotiations with Israel on the basis of a two-state solution .And in the west bank town of Al-Khalil, Jewish settlers protesting against an official israeli eviction order desecrated Muslim buildings. The Jewish settlers sprayed "death to Arabs" on a mosque wall and Vandalised a cemetery.
One soldier was injured in scuffles with settlers. The high court has ordered dozens of Hardline settlers to leave a house in the overwhelmingly Palestinian town
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Jordan's king Abdullah held talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas two days after Israeli leaders made a clandestine visit to the kingdom.
The meeting took place at the kingdom's southern red sea resort of Aqaba, the official said as the palace declined to comment on this week's Jordanian-Israeli talks.
According to Israeli public radio, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence minister Ehud Barak made a secret visit to Jordan on Tuesday and met with the king. During the meeting the Jordanian monarch urged the Israeli leaders to refrain from launching a large-scale military operations in the Gaza strip.
The king told Israeli leaders that Israel cannot enjoy peace unless the Palestinians obtain security and their own state.
The talks between king Abdullah and Abbas were meant to discuss means of pushing ahead with peace negotiations with Israel on the basis of a two-state solution. And in west bank town of Al-Khalil, Jewish settlers protesting against an official Israeli eviction order desecrated Muslim buildings. The Jewish settlers sprayed "death to Arabs" and on a mosque wall and Vandalised a cemetery. One soldier was injured in scuffles with settlers. The high court has ordered dozens of hardline settlers to leave a house in the overwhelmingly Palestinian town
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Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has said that a pact with the United States allowing u.s. troops to stay for three more years had a chance of being approved by parliament despite some heated opposition.
Zebari and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker signed the long-awaited pact, on Monday which requires Washington to withdraw its forces in 2011. But Iraqi parliament, which has been raucously debating it this week, must still pass it. Several factions are against it. Zebari had previously said that the political atmosphere in parliament was positive towards the pact. The foreign minister also said parliament should only approve or reject the pact, not attempt to amend it.
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