GENEVA (AFP) — An international conference was mired Wednesday, as efforts continued to break a deadlock after a Muslim challenge to moves to facilitate Israeli membership of the global Red Cross movement.

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia will review its troop deployment to Iraq by the end of this year, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said Wednesday — the first time the Australian government has signalled a possible timeline for withdrawing its troops.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — One of Saddam Hussein’s main lawyers was shot dead on Wednesday after men in police uniform took him from his home, relatives said, the third defence attorney to be killed since the trial opened in October.