A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Tutsi rebels accused of killing civilians
RUTSHURU- Tutsi rebels in eastern Congo have been accused of summarily killing civilians as they seized a town that had been the stronghold of Hutu militias, and forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes.
After two days of fighting, scores of bodies lay in the streets and homes of Kiwanja, a town adjacent to Rutshuru, which was seized by the Tutsi renegade general Laurent Nkunda last week.
Residents claimed his forces shot unarmed civilians after accusing them of supporting Hutu militias.
The UN said it was moving armoured vehicles and its forces into the area in an attempt to protect civilians and prevent further advances by the Tutsi rebels.
- (Guardian service)
11 killed in North Ossetia explosion
VLADIKAVKAZ- An explosion has killed 11 people in the southern Russian region of North Ossetia, according to law enforcement officials. The blast occurred yesterday as passengers were getting out of a minibus near the main market in the centre of the region's biggest city.
- (Reuters)
Slovenian parties agree coalition
LJUBLJANA- Slovenias centre-left parties have signed a coalition agreement, a day before Social Democrat leader Borut Pahor was due to be confirmed as the new prime minister by parliament.
Mr Pahor told reporters the coalition agreement was likely to be unveiled today.
- (Reuters)
Four jailed in France terror case
PARIS- A French court has sentenced four men to jail terms over plans to launch attacks in France and to smuggle Islamist fighters to Iraq, in the second such trial this year.
The three Moroccans and one French national of Algerian origin were found guilty of trying to recruit young radicals for jihad in Iraq.
- (Reuters)
Middle East deal unlikely, says Rice
TEL AVIV- The White House has acknowledged for the first time that Israel and the Palestinians are unlikely to reach a peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January.
US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, beginning a four-day visit to the Middle East, said Israel's decision to call a parliamentary election, scheduled for February 10th, had created a "different situation" that made it "very difficult" to come to an agreement.
- (Reuters)
Catholics, Muslims to work together
VATICAN CITY- Catholic and Muslim leaders at unprecedented Vatican meetings have promised to work together to combat violence and terrorism, especially when carried out in God's name.
At the end of three days of meetings, the 58 scholars and leaders - 29 from each side - issued a 15-point final joint declaration which also included an appeal for the defence of minority religions.
- (Reuters)