World highlights

• Iraq's Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki travelled to the city of Ramadi yesterday on his first visit to the heartland of Sunni Arab insurgents fighting his US-backed government. Mr Maliki, who flew aboard a US military helicopter and was accompanied by his Interior and Defence ministers, met tribal leaders, local government officials and Iraqi army commanders on his highly symbolic trip.

• US President George W. Bush tried to reassure Mexicans yesterday that he has not given up on overhauling US immigration policy but they are increasingly skeptical he can deliver. Mr Bush told Mexican President Felipe Calderon in their first summit meeting that he would try to convince Congress to pass his plans to soften US immigration laws and allow a guest worker programme.

• A top aide to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned, the Justice Department said yesterday, the latest fallout from the firing of federal prosecutors that has embarrassed the Bush administration and prompted calls for Mr Gonzales to step down. Lawmakers are investigating whether the dismissal last year of eight prosecutors, some of whom had been criticised by Republicans, was a politically motivated interference in federal prosecutions by the White House.