Syria has signalled to the UN’s Middle East envoy a willingness to change its relationship with Iran, Hizbollah and Hamas if progress were made towards a peace deal with Israel.

A thick blanket of smoke covered a Palestinian refugee camp Thursday as the army unleashed one of its heaviest bombardments against Al Qaeda-inspired gunmen holed up inside.

US President George W. Bush said Thursday he was sending his diplomatic and defence chiefs to the Middle East next month to shore up support for Iraq’s besieged government.