TBILISI (Reuters) – A leader of Georgia’s main opposition coalition said on Friday it was close to declaring a boycott of parliament in protest at an election it said was rigged to hand victory to President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party.

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops killed five Palestinian militants on Friday during raids into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, medical workers and a militant group said.

BEIJING (Reuters) – New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrives in Beijing on Friday, offering energy deals and military cooperation but seeking pledges of solidarity with resurgent China at a time when ties with the West are strained.