Brazil Tells Powell It Has Nothing to Hide on Nuclear Progra

By David Gollust Top Brazilian officials told U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Tuesday that country has nothing to hide on its nuclear program, despite a conflict over access by U.N. inspectors to

Israel's Parliament Approves Plan to Dismantle Jewish Settle

By Larry James When the votes were counted Mr. Sharon had the victory he had sought, with 67 votes for, 45 against and seven abstentions. The Knesset has 120 members but one was absent due to illness.

Sharon Suffers Parliament Setback on Gaza Pullout Plan

By Larry James The Israeli parliament has rejected Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's speech outlining his plans for a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The vote of 53-44 against Mr. Sharon's speech wa

Bush Voices Concern About Iranian Nuclear Program

By Scott Stearns President Bush says the international community must stand united in its opposition to Iran enriching uranium, which the United States believes is part of a secret plan to develop nuc

Nigeria to Delay Withdrawal from Potentially Oil Rich Penins

By Carrie Giardino Nigerian officials say they will not remove their troops and hand over the potentially oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon as scheduled Wednesday. The United Nations has been hel

Pan-African Parliament Prepares for Historic Meeting

By Challiss McDonough The new Pan-African Parliament will open its second session Thursday in South Africa. It is the first time the all-African body will be meeting in its permanent host country. It

US Lifts More Sanctions Against Libya

By David Gollust President Bush Monday lifted sanctions barring most U.S. trade with Libya. The move clears the way for compensation payments to families of victims of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am fligh

Four Lebanese Ministers Resign from Government

By Ursula Lindsey Four ministers resigned from the Lebanese government late Monday to protest the Syria-backed extension of President Emile Lahoud's term. The resignations have caused speculation that

Mideast Closely Watches US Secretary of State Succession

By Larry James Secretary of State Colin Powell's resignation and the reported selection of National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as his successor is being watched with great interest in the Middl

Britain Defends Legality of Iraq Invasion

By Michael Drudge Britain says it disagrees with the assessment of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. Fresh controversy has erupted over the legality of the U.S.-

US Supports Term Limit for IAEA Chief

By Paula Wolfson The Bush administration says it continues to believe there should be term limits for top U.N. officials. Among those nearing the end of his second term is the head of the Internationa

Washington Expected to Refocus Military Strength in Asia

By Benjamin Sand Analysts say a planned re-alignment of U.S. military personnel abroad does not reflect a lessening of Washington's commitment to stability in Asia, but some individual countries in th

Some Trade Issues Divide US, Canada

By Andre de Nesnera Trade is the most important component of U.S.-Canada relations. Each country is the other's biggest trading customer. Eighty-four percent of Canada's exports go the United States a

Sudan to Accept More Monitors, Troops

By Cathy Majtenyi Sudan's foreign minister says he and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw have agreed to support an increase in the number of African Union monitors in the troubled area of Darfur. A

AU Troops Struggle Amid Sudan's Fragile Cease-Fire

By Raymond Thibodeaux The African Union's peacekeeping mission in Sudan is one of the organization's largest and most ambitious, with 3,300 troops to be deployed in western Sudan. Still, the mission h

Annan Tells World Leaders Rule of Law Under Attack

By Peter Heinlein U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told world leaders that the rule of law is under attack in crisis points around the globe. The secretary-general reminded his audience of presid

US, Iraqi Forces Prepare Major Attack on Najaf Insurgents

By Laurie Kassman U.S. and Iraqi forces say they are preparing a major assault against insurgents loyal to radical Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf after a week

Kofi Annan Urges Security Council to Act Quickly in Darfur

By Peter Heinlein U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is urging the Security Council to act quickly to protect civilians in Sudan's troubled Darfur region. The United States is preparing to introduce a

Russia to Sell off Key Part of Embattled

By Bill Gasperini The Russian government says it will auction off the main production unit of embattled Yukos Oil next month as part of its long legal battle against the company and its former directo

Yushchenko: Regime in Ukraine in its Last Days

By Marlene Smith Ukrainian opposition leader Victor Yushchenko says the people of Ukraine have already made the choice for a new country, as he prepares to resume campaigning for a re-run of president