MOSCOW - President Boris Yeltsin is sending a message to several foreign leaders on Wednesday with proposals to try to end the Yugoslavia conflict.
NEW DELHI - The European Union reserves the right to appeal against a world trade ruling in a row with the United States over banana imports, European Commission Vice-President Leon Brittan said.
JAKARTA - Indonesian Justice Minister Muladi said on Wednesday he would meet detained East Timor rebel chief Xanana Gusmao for talks over his "unacceptable" call to supporters to renew their war against Jakarta.
LOS ANGELES - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji kicked off his visit to the United States on Tuesday by turning on the charm, poking fun at Sino-U.S. frictions while defending Beijing against criticism over issues such as human rights.
TIRANA - Yugoslavia closed the main border crossing from Kosovo into Albania early on Wednesday and told refugees it was safe for them to return home, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) said.
CAMP ZEIST, Netherlands - Diplomatic and legal manoeuvring over the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing abated on Wednesday as a long wait began for the trial of two Libyans charged in the case.
MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov postponed a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday because he is suffering with back pain.
ABUJA - Opponents of Nigeria`s General Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday dropped their appeal against his presidential election victory, paving the way for the former military ruler to take office on May 29.
GENEVA - The United Nations` main human rights body on Tuesday expressed alarm at "horrifying violations" in Sierra Leone and called on all factions to halt killings and other abuses.
GENEVA - The United Nations investigator for human rights in Sudan on Tuesday accused the Islamist government`s forces of violations including killings and called on Khartoum to allow an independent inquiry into slavery.
ANKARA - A Turkish Airlines jet crashed in southern Turkey early on Wednesday, killing all six crew on
board.
UNITED NATIONS - With few signs of unity, the 15-member U.N. Security Council on Wednesday begins discussions on its deadlocked policy on disarmament and sanctions in Iraq.
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia will allow foreign judges and prosecutors to take part in the trial of Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok to ensure the process meets international standards.
COLOMBO - Sri Lanka`s ruling People`s Alliance on Wednesday narrowly won five regional polls that tested its support ahead of national elections due next year.
SEOUL - South Korea said on Wednesday five North Korean defectors, including a family of three, have recently arrived in the country seeking political asylum.
MEXICO CITY - Mexico on
Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for a fugitive former state governor, accusing him of being in league with one of the country`s most fearsome drug cartels.
ASUNCION, Paraguay - An investigation into the slaying of Vice President Luis Maria Argana and seven other people in Paraguay`s recent political turmoil uncovered signs that convicted coup leader Lino Oviedo was involved.
