World highlights

¤ A purported audio recording by the leader of Iraq's al Qaeda wing gloated over the resignation of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, as a top US general said the military was preparing to recommend strategy changes. ¤ Iran will review relations...

¤ A purported audio recording by the leader of Iraq's al Qaeda wing gloated over the resignation of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, as a top US general said the military was preparing to recommend strategy changes.

¤ Iran will review relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency if the UN Security Council adopts a European draft resolution imposing sanctions, Tehran's nuclear negotiator said yesterday.

¤ Russia and the United States agreed in principle yesterday on Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organisation, marking a major breakthrough after 13 years of tortuous negotiations.

¤ Electric shocks, beatings, rape threats and genital abuse are among the types of torture alleged by an Egyptian prisoner at the centre of Europe's biggest CIA "rendition" case.

¤ Ethnic violence is spreading in eastern Chad, sending residents fleeing from the region where more than 220 villagers have been killed by gunmen in the past week, the UN refugee agency said yesterday.

¤ Sri Lanka's military said it sank two Tamil Tiger suicide boats in a new clash yesterday and a pro-rebel MP was assassinated in the capital, underlining the escalation of a two-decade civil war in the island republic.

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