A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Palestine and Israel start peace talks
RAMALLAH- Senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will open talks today on the most sensitive issues such as the future of Jerusalem as part of a US-led push for a peace deal this year, officials have said.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said that his chief negotiator, Ahmed Qurei, and Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni would lead the discussions on vital issues which they hoped would lead to the formation of a Palestinian state.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Aryeh Mekel confirmed that the talks would begin today in Jerusalem. Other core "final status" issues include borders and Palestinian refugees.
- (Reuters)
Call to investigate Kenyan election
NAIROBI- A five-nation east African bloc wants "suspect" actions during vote tallying from Kenya's disputed presidential polls investigated and guilty parties held accountable, it said in a report.
Riots and ethnic clashes have killed 500 people across Kenya since president Mwai Kibaki's re-election following the December 27th ballot, which his rival, Raila Odinga claims was rigged.
The United Nations says 250,000 Kenyans have been uprooted by the violence and that half a million will need emergency aid.
- (Reuters)
State a suspect in Bhutto death - poll
ISLAMABAD- Nearly half of Pakistanis believe that government agencies or government-allied politicians were involved in opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's assassination, a poll found, as President Pervez Musharraf again dismissed such suspicion.
Ms Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack on December 27th as she was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi.
- (Reuters)
Avalanche kills three people
ROME- An avalanche in northern Italy has killed at least three people and injured six, while another three are still missing, according to state television.
The group of 12 was hit by the avalanche on Mount Maniva, near the city of Brescia, as they were riding on snowmobiles, the Italian fire brigade said yesterday.
Rescue services dug the six injured people out of the snow and were looking for those who were still missing.
- (Reuters)