World - AFP

THE HAGUE (AFP) - Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic refused to enter a plea before a UN war crimes court Friday, attacking the tribunal's independence and labelling it "a court of NATO".

TBILISI (AFP) - Georgia on Friday broke diplomatic relations with Russia, heightening hostilities between the neighbours as Moscow also hit back at Western criticism.

PRETORIA (AFP) - South African officials were locked in separate negotiations with Zimbabwe's political rivals on Friday in a bid to kickstart stalled power-sharing talks to resolve a ruinous political crisis.

DENVER, Colorado (AFP) - Energized by a historic Democratic convention, Barack Obama Friday plunged back onto the campaign trial as his Republican rival John McCain shook up the White House race with a surprise VP pick.

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai police on Friday fired tear gas and scuffled with protesters who are demanding the premier step down, as escalating turmoil in the kingdom heaped pressure on the seven-month-old government.

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his wife Aliza were both questioned on Friday over a 2004 housing deal that is still being investigated, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

RABAT (AFP) - Moroccan police said Friday they had dismantled "a dangerous terrorist network" linked to Al-Qaeda and arrested 15 suspects who were planning attacks in the kingdom.

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - At least 22 militants, including two senior commanders, were killed late Friday in an air strike by Pakistan's military in the troubled northwest Swat valley, a senior security official told AFP.

KINGSTON (AFP) - Deadly Tropical Storm Gustav thrashed Jamaica Friday and was on track to crash into Cuba as a hurricane after leaving up to 78 people dead in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.

DENVER, Colorado (AFP) - Barack Obama will Thursday tell Americans their country faces a "defining moment" at home and vow to keep them safe from foreign threats in a dazzling finale to the Democratic convention.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Washington on Thursday of manufacturing the Georgia conflict as tensions mounted with the United States threatening to scrap a nuclear deal in protest at Moscow's actions.

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's embattled prime minister vowed Thursday to end massive rallies against his rule without force -- raising the spectre of a prolonged siege of Bangkok's main government compound.

KINGSTON (AFP) - Tropical Storm Gustav battered Jamaica Thursday as the death toll climbed to 51 in Haiti, two days after the storm raked across the impoverished nation at hurricane strength.

BHUBANESWAR, India (AFP) - At least 1,500 people have fled their homes for shelters in eastern India after days of violent clashes between Hindus and Christians that have killed at least 10, officials said Thursday.

HARARE (AFP) - President Robert Mugabe's regime insisted Thursday it will form a new government alone as an outraged opposition planned to petition mediator Thabo Mbeki to save Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks from an "act of insanity".

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Hundreds of Pakistani lawyers protested Thursday to demand the reinstatement of judges sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf, an issue at the heart of political instability here.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in to parliament Thursday, only to stage a dramatic walkout hours later in a row over controversial DNA sampling legislation.

KABUL (AFP) - Afghan and international troops have killed more than 100 Taliban militants in several clashes in the troubled southern province of Helmand over the past three days, the US-led coalition said Thursday.

DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) - The Dalai Lama was taken to hospital in India on Thursday after complaining of stomach pain, his office said.

DENVER, Colorado (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama Wednesday made history as Democrats formally nominated him by acclamation as the first black presidential nominee of a major political party.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia lashed out at the West on Wednesday for ratcheting up tensions in the Black Sea with an increased NATO naval presence, and warned against isolating Moscow over the conflict in Georgia.

KHARTOUM (AFP) - Overjoyed passengers from a hijacked Sudanese jet returned home to delighted families on Thursday, having feared they would die at the hands of gunmen who threatened to blow up the plane.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US forces will hand over control of Anbar province to Iraqi troops in the coming days, military officials said Wednesday, touting improved security in the region.

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand on Wednesday ordered thousands of protesters to leave the main government complex and issued arrest warrants for their leaders, ratcheting up the pressure to end the two-day stand-off.

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe's opposition said Wednesday it will not join any new government with President Robert Mugabe until power-sharing talks are concluded, after the 84-year-old declared he would name his own cabinet.

BHUBANESWAR, India (AFP) - Indian police were ordered to shoot on sight to end Hindu-Christian clashes on Wednesday as Pope Benedict XVI "firmly condemned" violence that has killed at least nine people.

VALLETTA (AFP) - Seventy would-be illegal African immigrants to Europe perished when their boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea, according to eight companions rescued Wednesday off Malta, officials said.

THE HAGUE (AFP) - The war crimes trial of Serbian ultra-nationalist Vojislav Seselj has been adjourned as judges await a decision on his right to defend himself, the UN war crimes tribunal said Wednesday.