Palestinian officials say they reject President Bush's decision to support Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and some small settlements in the West Bank.
Thailand's prime minister meets with local Buddhist and Muslim leaders in the country's troubled south.
Members of the ethnic Hmong community in the United States have demonstrated against legislation in Congress to grant normal trade relations to Laos. About 400 people, some of them waving signs and shouting into bullhorns, protested in the northern U-S city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Wednesday. It was one of several rallies scheduled against the legislation.
Three Japanese citizens kidnapped one week ago in Iraq have been freed. They appear to be in good condition.
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