BAGHDAD (Reuters) — President George W. Bush said during a surprise trip to Baghdad on Tuesday he was encouraged by Iraq’s new government but warned of difficult times ahead, as Al Qaeda in Iraq vowed retaliation for the death of its leader.

BRUSSELS — Still ruffled by the furor over the Prophet Mohammad cartoons, the European Union is refining a communication strategy in an effort to help stop disenchanted Muslim youths turning to terrorism.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Reuters) — The Palestinian territories are in a state of near civil war and just one act of violence, such as a high-profile assassination, could trigger total mayhem, an international think tank said on Tuesday.

Jordan strongly condemns policies of ‘random, unjustified killing’, demands halt to operations RAMALLAH —  As Israel tried to extricate itself from blame for Friday’s beach bombing, another deadly missile attack in Gaza killed 11 people yesterday, eight of them civilian, among them two children and three medical workers.

The ruling party in Palestine, HAMAS, accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of preparing a coup against the government. HAMAS spokesman Mushir al Masri spoke about Abbas’ calling

RIYADH — A stock market crash and an invigorated Islamist lobby appear to have stymied progress on political reforms in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, analysts and diplomats say.

WASHINGTON — US President George W. Bush already has made significant concessions as part of a major power offer to end the Iran nuclear crisis.

CAMP GOUROUKOUN, Chad (Reuters) — Mohammad Ibrahim, 18, waited patiently in the boiling sun to show United Nations Security Council ambassadors the welts burned into his back and head by Sudan’s marauding Janjaweed Arab militiamen.

MOGADISHU (Reuters) — More than 1,000 Islamist fighters deployed to a strategic camp north of Mogadishu on Sunday, witnesses said, sparking fears of a new offensive against warlords.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Reuters) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to seek a strong European stand against the Hamas-led Palestinian government and Iran’s nuclear programme as he begins his first visit to Britain and France on Sunday.