Hundreds of Palestinians demanding jobs clashed with riot police outside parliament on Tuesday in one of the most violent rallies in Gaza since the Hamas government assumed power seven months ago.

KHARTOUM  (AFP) — Sudanese President Omar Bashir rebuffed a plea from Washington’s top Africa envoy Tuesday to allow a UN peacekeeping force in strife-torn Darfur, after forcing her to extend her visit to secure a meeting at all.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert came under heavy criticism Tuesday for announcing the creation of a committee of inquiry to examine the failures of the Lebanon war rather than a powerful independent commission.