World highlights

¤ The resignation of one of the main architects of the US-led invasion, Donald Rumsfeld, brought some satisfaction to Iraqis but did little to inspire confidence that a slide into chaos can be halted. A string of car bombs in Baghdad that killed more than a dozen people yesterday was a reminder of the daily hazards of life that preoccupy most Iraqis more than distant politics.

¤ Nato forces killed up to 22 Taliban fighters in an air strike in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, Afghan and alliance officials said. Residents said at least one woman was also killed in the raid on Wednesday evening in Zari district, southwest of the provincial capital, Kandahar city.

¤ Sri Lanka's military said it sank 22 Tamil Tiger boats in a sea battle after what it said was a rebel attempt to sink a passenger ship with 300 civilians aboard in a suicide attack. The military said air force jets and helicopter gunships were brought in after the rebels sank a navy fast attack boat. The Tigers accused the military of provoking the clash by attacking their vessels during exercises at sea.

¤ Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani will visit Moscow today amid concern in the West about Russia's readiness to back UN sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme. "The Secretary of the (Iranian) National Security Council, Mr Larijani, arrives in Moscow tomorrow and he will have negotiations in the Russian Security Council and the Foreign Ministry," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.