Iraq: Two car-bomb explosions in Baghdad have killed at least 22 Iraqis and wounded dozens more.
Authorities say the first bomb exploded during the morning rush hour today (Wednesday) near a police station in eastern Baghdad. That attack killed 14 people, including three policemen, and wounded nearly 60 others.
Also in eastern Baghdad, another car bomb exploded near a police patrol, killing at least eight people and wounding nearly 20 others.
Separately, Iraqi (Interior Ministry) officials say the bodies of 60 men who were bound, tortured and shot to death were found overnight in the capital.
Syria Attack: The United States has praised Syria's quick action against terrorists who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Tuesday.
President Bush's spokesman (Tony Snow) says the United States is grateful that Syrian security forces moved in before any Americans were injured. He added that the incident should persuade Syria's leaders to join the United States and its allies in the war on terror.
U.S. praise for Syria is unusual, and VOA's State Department correspondent says the incident also resulted in some rare high-level diplomatic contacts between Damascus and Washington.
Syrian security forces say they killed three of the four attackers who tried to storm the embassy compound using improvised bombs and small arms. A fourth gunman was wounded and arrested.
Turkey - Explosion: Turkish officials say the death toll from Tuesday's bomb blast in the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir has risen to 10 as three more people died of their injuries.
They say at least five children were among the dead. More than 15 others were injured in the blast that authorities suspect was triggered by a mobile telephone.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.Diyarbakir is the largest city in southeastern Turkey's mainly Kurdish region.
Sarkozy is a leading contender to succeed French President Jacques Chirac in elections due next year. Officials say he spoke with Mr. Bush Tuesday for about half an hour at the office of National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
A spokesman for Hadley (Frederick Jones) says President Bush thanked Sarkozy for France's strong support for efforts to combat terrorism. They also discussed the importance of U.S.-French cooperation in addressing global challenges.
Sarkozy spoke about his affection for the United States during a speech to the French-American Foundation in Washington. He dismissed French critics of his pro-U.S. stance and said he is proud of his friendship with America.
Thailand - Hmongs: Thai police on Tuesday arrested ethnic 35 Hmong refugees who illegally crossed the border from Laos into Thailand, police said.The Hmong, including 15 children under 15 years old, were arrested when police stopped the two pick up trucks on which they were traveling in Udon Thani province, 285 miles northeast of Bangkok, early Tuesday morning, said police Col. Sitthiporn Noanjui.Two Thais driving the vehicles and two other Thais who were waiting to pick up the refugees to take them further into Thailand were also arrested, he sa id. The arrested Hmpngs said they were headed for Baan Huay Namkhao in Phetchabun province to join their relatives.
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