World Highlights

¤ The African Union will add 4,000 troops to its extended Darfur peacekeeping mission, bringing the number of police and soldiers in western Sudan to 11,000, a spokesman for the AU said. "The Peace and Security Council of the AU... has endorsed the new concept of operation, extending the duration of stay of the African Mission in Sudan up to December 31, and to boost the troop level by six battalions," said Mr Assan Ba, spokesman for the AU in Addis Ababa.

¤ Iraq's parliament agreed to set up a body to draft constitutional changes, a key part of a breakthrough deal reached by the country's factions to end political paralysis and avoid civil war. Iraq's new, US-sponsored political system has been stalled by wrangling over amendments to the constitution and autonomy for the oil-rich Shi'ite heartland in the south, while the streets have grown ever more violent since December's election.

¤ The US said it was partly easing its ban on liquids and gels in carry-on bags on airline flights, a policy imposed last month after authorities in London said they foiled a plot to bomb US-bound flights. Travellers will be allowed to carry travel-size toiletries of 90 ml or less in a small clear-plastic bag, the Transportation Security Administration said. They also may carry on drinks and other items purchased in the secure areas of the airport.

¤ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas put off talks with Hamas aimed at breaking a stalemate over forming a unity government, in a sign of deep internal divisions. The Palestinian Presidents's aides had said he was expected to travel to Gaza today for talks with leaders of the ruling Hamas Islamist movement including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

¤ A graft-busting panel appointed by Thailand's coup leaders will take over probes into alleged corruption by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his cabinet, which could lead to asset seizures and political bans. Auditor-General Jaruwan Maintaka, who had promised results in some existing investigations by the end of this month, said yesterday she had handed over her findings so far to the panel the military appointed less than a week after taking power.

¤ Officially it was all smiles when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met the 25 foreign ministers of the European Union on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week. But a pointed exchange behind closed doors on methods of fighting terrorism between Ms Rice and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, highlighted transatlantic tensions lurking below the surface.