NORTH KOREA: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is calling for "swift implementation" of U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea following its underground nuclear test last week. Speaking today (Wednesday) in Tokyo, where she met with her Japanese counterpart (Foreign Minister) Taro Aso, Rice said the two countries agreed on the need to enforce the U.N. Security Council's sanctions. Rice called North Korea's nuclear test an "unacceptable" act that will only isolate Pyongyang further from the international community.
SRI LANKA: Suspected Tamil rebels infiltrated the harbor in Sri Lanka's southern port city of Galle today (Wednesday) and blew up three of their boats in an apparent suicide attack. Security officials say the rebels entered the harbor in five boats posing as fishermen. At least three people were killed during the attack, including a navy sailor, and several others were wounded.
IRAQ: The U.S. military says nine American soldiers and one Marine were killed in attacks and combat operations in Iraq on Tuesday. Military statements (issued today / Wednesday) say five soldiers were killed in roadside bomb blasts north and west of Baghdad, while gunfire in the capital killed one soldier and wounded another. Three other American soldiers and a Marine died "due to enemy action" in the provinces of Al Anbar and Diyala. A total of 68 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq this month.
THAILAND-MALAYSIA: Thailand's army-installed interim prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, is in Malaysia today (Wednesday) for talks expected to focus on a Muslim insurgency plaguing Thailand's southern provinces. Mr. Surayud is to meet with top Malaysian officials during his one-day visit to Kuala Lumpur. More violence was reported in southern Thailand today. Officials say insurgents attacked an army base in Yala province, killing one soldier and wounding four others.
AFGHANISTAN-ITALY: Kidnapers who seized an Italian photojournalist in Afghanistan las week are offering to release him in return for an Afghan Christian now living in Italy.
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