More world news in brief.
Abbas meets Olmert ahead of visit to US
ISRAEL -Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas held a surprise meeting yesterday ahead of Mr Abbas's visit to Washington for talks with US president George W Bush.
A senior Israeli official said the one-on-one meeting at Mr Olmert's residence in Jerusalem, the second in a week, was brought forward to "increase the level of co- operation and co-ordination before Abbas visits Washington" this month.
Negotiations on issues at the heart of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict have shown little outward sign of progress since final-status talks were renewed at a US-hosted peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, last November. - (Reuters)
Baghdad wants Arab envoys
IRAQ -Iraq will press Arab nations later his month to stop "sitting on the fence" and post ambassadors to Baghdad, according to foreign minister Hoshiyar Zebari.
There is virtually no senior representative from any Arab country in Baghdad. Visits by top Arab officials are also rare. - (Reuters)
Ex-bishop leads Paraguay poll
PARAGUAY -Former Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo is still the front-runner ahead of Paraguay's April 20th presidential vote, but his lead over rival candidates has narrowed, a voter survey has shown.
Mr Lugo is seen winning the election with 34.5 per cent of votes. Retired army general Lino Oviedo would get 28.9 per cent and ling Colorado Party candidate Blanca Ovelar, 28.5 per cent. - (Reuters)
Somalis drown off Yemen coast
YEMEN -At least 18 Somalis have drowned off the coast of Yemen while trying to cross from Somalia, according to Yemeni officials.
The crew of the vessel carrying about 120 migrants forced them to jump into the sea off Yemen's coast to swim ashore, the officials said. - (Reuters)
Judge shot dead in Ingushetia
RUSSIA -A top judge in Russia's southern troubled province of Ingushetia who had led trials of Islamic rebels has been shot dead.
Khasan Yandiyev, deputy head of Ingushetia's Supreme Court, was killed yesterday while changing a car tyre near Karabulak, said a regional interior ministry spokesman. - (Reuters)