February 10, 2007 — MECCA, Saudi Arabia – Hamas urged the West yesterday to accept a new Palestinian unity government, but leading officials from the Islamic terror group said they would never recognize Israel, nor abide by existing peace accords.

BAGHDAD: Twenty-nine Iraqis, including eight Kurdish policemen, were killed and three more US soldiers have been killed Friday in separate incidents of violence in Iraq.

A 54-year-old former paratrooper with an honours degree in diplomacy has taken over the toughest job in the US military, assuming control of the coalition in Iraq at a ceremony in one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces.