BRUSSELS – The European Union must end internal divisions over Russia and act together to strengthen its hand in talks on energy and other issues, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote in an article published on Monday.

BELGRADE – Serbia charged Kosovo’s Albanian leadership with treason on Monday for proclaiming the province independent.

BAKU – Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan said on Monday it did not recognize Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

HANOI – Vietnam, a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, said on Monday it opposed Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia.

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has not agreed to postpone talks on the future of Jerusalem, a senior adviser said on Monday, disputing comments by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

TEHRAN – The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Monday Israel would soon be destroyed by the “hands of Hezbollah”, the Lebanese group which is backed by the Islamic Republic, Fars News Agency reported.

BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she saw no need to change parliamentary mandates that set limits on the number of troops her government can send to Afghanistan despite mounting pressure from NATO allies.

MOSCOW – Chechen rebels fighting to secede from Russia hailed Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, comparing Pristina’s fight against Serbia to their own struggle against Moscow.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and visiting UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum discussed bilateral ties, regional developments and other issues of mutual interest in a meeting here on Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Millions of Pakistanis in different constituencies across the country on Monday rushed to make their wishes known through the ballot box.