May, 2006

• 27 May

  Mogadishu fighting kills 39

  MOGADISHU (AP) — At least 39 people were killed Thursday in renewed fighting in the Somali capital that sent thousands of frightened civilians running from their homes, medical officials and a militia commander said. According to reports collected from the Somali capital’s main hospitals, at least 30 people were killed …

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• 27 May

  Abbas proposes Palestinian referendum over terms of state

  RAMALLAH (Agencies) — In a bold ultimatum, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday gave Hamas 10 days to accept the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and said he’ll submit the plan to a referendum by mid-July if Hamas refuses.

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• 27 May

  Deep split over Hizbollah weapons

  BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon marked the sixth anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon on Thursday, amid deep divisions among its rival leaders over the fate of Hizbollah’s weapons.

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• 24 May

  Insurgents fight US, Iraqi forces to stalemate

  RAMADI, Iraq (AP) — Whole neighborhoods are lawless, too dangerous for police. Some roads are so bomb-laden that US troops won’t use them. Guerrillas attack US troops nearly every time they venture out — and hit their bases with gunfire, rockets or mortars when they don’t.

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• 24 May

  UN seeks to persuade Sudan to accept peacekeepers

  KHARTOUM (Reuters) — Senior diplomats will seek to persuade Khartoum on Tuesday to accept UN peacekeepers in the violent Darfur region after UN chief Kofi Annan accused Sudan of violating international law.

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• 24 May

  Israel seeks cruise missiles — sources

  TEL AVIV (Reuters) — Israel has speeded up efforts to develop long-range cruise missiles of a type that could be used should the Jewish state try to strike at Iran’s nuclear facilities, security sources said on Tuesday.

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• 24 May

  Conflicting Gulf messages to resolve atomic crisis

  ABU DHABI (AP) — Gulf officials sent conflicting messages about a new diplomatic initiative by Arab countries of the region to help resolve the dispute over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

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• 24 May

  UN nuclear chief seeks compromise on Iran

  VIENNA (AFP) — UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohammed  Al Baradei may be carrying a message from the Iranians on his visit to Washington this week amidst the crisis over Tehran’s atomic ambitions, diplomats told AFP. Diplomats said Baradei could play a role in secret diplomacy as he met in Vienna …

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• 24 May

  Egypt says Palestinians aided Sinai attackers

  CAIRO (AP) — Egypt on Tuesday accused Palestinians of helping finance and train members of an Egyptian militant group that carried out a string of bombings at Sinai tourist resorts, the first direct link it has made between the terror attacks and the stormy Gaza Strip.

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• 24 May

  Washington presses Olmert to talk to Abbas

  US House overwhelmingly backs bill to brand PA ‘terrorist sanctuary,’ further restrict aid WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met President George W. Bush on Tuesday facing US pressure to hold “serious talks” with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and bypass the Hamas-led government.

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