ASADABAD, Afghanistan (AFP) — Taliban militants beheaded Wednesday four Afghan roadworkers abducted a week ago while a series of rebel bombings killed three civilians, authorities said.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — NATO on Wednesday urged Canada not to pull its troops from Afghanistan’s dangerous Kandahar region and pledged to help find the 1,000 additional allied troops Ottawa is demanding.

BAGHDAD – Iraq said on Wednesday it was determined to “cleanse” its northern city of Mosul of al Qaeda fighters but its U.S. backers said a planned operation might not deal the decisive blow that Baghdad wanted.