United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon Sunday called on the new Palestinian government to meet international demands regarding Israel, and said he shared hopes for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Sunday defended US policy in the Mideast, also urging Arab leaders to get more involved in reviving the peace process.

Three Sunni mosques in Haswa were attacked Sunday, a day after a suicide bombing of a Shiite shrine in that city.A Sunni mosque was bombed Sunday morning and then burned, according to Capt. Muthana Ahmed, a spokesman for the Babil province police. Two people were injured.