A roundup of today's other stories in brief
Israel coalition weakened by party walk-out
JERUSALEM -A right-wing party walked out of the ruling Israeli coalition yesterday in protest at a new effort to start peace talks with the Palestinians.
The departure of the hawkish Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu party was widely predicted but leaves the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, with a weakened majority.
Mr Lieberman, an immigrant from Russia who lives in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, warned he would resign if Mr Olmert began to negotiate on core issues with Palestinian leaders. - (Guardian)
Fourth Dorset swan killed by bird flu
The discovery of a fourth swan in Dorset killed by the potentially lethal H5NI bird flu disease does not increase the risk of the disease reaching Ireland, a Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday, writes Seán Mac Connell.
Britain's farm ministry said there was currently no evidence to suggest widespread disease in the wildfowl population and the bird flu had not spread to domestic flocks.
Abbas calls rival over death of son
GAZA- Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called a leader of rival Hamas yesterday to commiserate on the killing of his son by Israeli forces, Hamas said, the first such contact since a Palestinian factional schism last year.
Hamas routed Mr Abbas's secular Fatah to take over the Gaza Strip in June, prompting the Palestinian president to shun the Islamist group and step up western-sponsored peace efforts with Israel.
- (Reuters)
Bush urges Egypt to foster freedom
SHARM EL-SHEIKH -US president George Bush prodded the Egyptian government yesterday to cede more freedom and applauded the work of journalists, bloggers and judges seeking independ- ence from interference. Mr Bush was on the final stop of a Middle East tour.
- (Reuters)