PAKISTAN-MISSILE: Pakistani intelligence officials say at least eight people have been
killed in a suspected U.S. missile strike in northwest Pakistan.
Officials say the attack occurred today (Monday) in the
South Waziristan tribal region near the border with Afghanistan. Two
vehicles were destroyed in the attacks, killing all eight people.
The region is considered a stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaida
militants. There have been a series of missile strikes targeting
alleged militants in northwest Pakistan in recent months.
The strikes are widely believed to be from U.S. drones - unmanned,
remote-controlled aircraft. Washington has refused to confirm or deny
responsibility.
IRAQ:Iraqi lawmakers are due to vote today (Monday) on a resolution that will determine the fate of foreign troops other than those from the United States beyond 2008.
The vote comes one day after the Iraqi parliament reached a last-minute
compromise that transforms last week's rejected draft law into a
parliamentary resolution -- a move requiring only a simple majority in
parliament.
The resolution authorizes the presence of troops from Australia,
Britain, El Salvador, Estonia and Romania to be deployed in Iraq until
the end of July.
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS: Israel has threatened to launch a major offensive against the
Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, after Palestinian militants fired more rockets
inside its territory.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a Cabinet meeting Sunday that while Israel will not rush to go to war, it will not avoid one.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he has ordered the army to create
plans for how, when and where to respond to increased militant attacks
from Gaza.
The two leading candidates for prime minister pledged to oust the Hamas regime if elected.
U.S-ZIMBABWE: The United States says it can no longer support a proposed Zimbabwean
power-sharing deal that would leave Robert Mugabe as president.
The top U.S. envoy for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, made the announcement Sunday in Pretoria, South Africa.
Frazer said the U.S. has lost confidence that Mr. Mugabe is capable of
sharing power. She described Mr. Mugabe as a man who has, in her words,
"lost it," and is out of touch with reality.
Frazer said she has urged Zimbabwe's neighbors to increase pressure on Mr. Mugabe.
