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Include Possibility Of Nuclear Research Reactors (AP) UNITED NATIONS The world powers are prepared to provide Iran with advanced technology and possibly even nuclear research reactors if it agrees to suspend uranium enrichment under a package of incentives revealed in full for the first time Thursday. The package -- put together by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- was given to the Iranians on June 6 and some details were leaked at the time. But the full proposal showed a broader range of economic, political and energy incentives. They include promoting Tehran's membership in the World...

snip- Scotland Yard said a decision not to arrest protesters was taken because of public order fears. It confirmed that police had received more than 100 complaints from the public about the protesters' behaviour. snip- Yesterday, more than 1,000 demonstrators staged a second protest outside the embassy. The only arrests made were of two men found carrying cartoons of Mohammed. Police said they had been detained "to prevent a breach of the peace".

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hailed Israel's historic Gaza withdrawal as the result of Palestinian sacrifice, as Israeli forces moved out some of the last remaining Jewish settlers. With the vast majority of the 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza evacuated, Abbas told a crowd of jubilant supporters that the ending of 38 years of Israeli occupation in the tiny territory was "the fruit of Palestinian sacrifice". "We want on this occasion to pay homage to our martyrs, to our prisoners, to our wounded and all those among our people who have made sacrifices," he said. The...

<p>Live thread for posting breaking news about the Gaza Explulsion which is set to begin within the hour...</p>

The United States is ready to be a partner in helping Palestinians build their own state and will keep to plans to hand over power to an interim Iraqi government on June 30, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Sunday. In a German television interview, Rice also said she felt "great shame" about the abuse of inmates at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad but insisted it had not undermined US moral authority in the world. Rice's comments came before talks in Berlin on Monday with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, part of a renewed Bush administration effort to bring about...

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Saturday urged Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia to "seize the opportunity" of a proposed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as a first step toward statehood next year. Powell also said time is running out on President George W. Bush's pledge to create a Palestinian state in 2005. "I don't think anyone can predict" whether that timetable will be met, Powell said after a 40-minute meeting with Qureia. Qureia said the Palestinian leadership wanted to see exactly what Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would propose. "We are waiting to see what the plan is and to...

U.S. Secretary of State Powell may meet with Palestinian PM Qureia this coming weekend (Israel Radio)

Bush to send Condoleezza Rice to Berlin in coming weeks where renewing talks with Abu Ala will be on agenda (Israel Radio)

MR. KING: A long time ago, you told me that of all the conflicts you've seen, nothing compares to the hostility of the Mideast, Palestinians and the Jews. And now we have Sharon agreeing, the President agreeing with Sharon, they're going to reduce some of the settlements -- and his own party turns it down. What's your reaction? SECRETARY POWELL: His party turned it down, but the polling among all Israelis suggest that there is an overwhelming support, level of support. Now, what does that mean? MR. KING: What does that mean politically? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, we'll have to see....

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell assured Europeans Tuesday that the Bush administration was determined to launch a Palestinian state and that any decision on Israeli population centers remaining on the West Bank would require Palestinian approval. Still, Powell lined up with President George Bush's assurances last week to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that "the realities that exist in the area" should be taken into account in a peace accord. Powell made the statements after a meeting with Javier Solana, the senior European Union's top foreign policy official. The White House on Tuesday played down any hint of friction with...

The US on Thursday condemned the Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem that killed 10 and wounded dozens and urged Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Ala to deal with terrorist activity. "We condemn it thoroughly," Secretary of State Colin Powell said after meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. "Once again, terrorists have killed innocent people and at the same time they have struck a blow, once more, against the aspirations of the Palestinian people to have a homeland of their own." "This kind of action has got to stop. And I once again implore the Palestinian leaders, and especially Prime Minister Abu...

WASHINGTON (AP)--President Bush warned Israel anew on Friday not to take actions that would make it harder to create a Palestinian state. ``It's in Israel's interest there be a Palestinian state,'' Bush told reporters at the White House. ``It's in the poor suffering Palestinian people's interest there be a Palestinian state.'' Also Friday, Israel Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said after a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell that he and Powell agree that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians should begin immediately without preconditions. Shalom added that he hoped Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed...

CONTROVERSIAL Palestinian MP Hanan Ashrawi arrived in Sydney this morning ahead of a ceremony to award her a peace prize. Dr Ashrawi was chosen by the Sydney Peace Foundation to receive the Sydney Peace Prize for her commitment to human rights, to the peace process in the Middle East and for her courage in speaking against oppression, against corruption and for justice. Dr Ashrawi will deliver the 2003 Sydney Peace Prize lecture tonight at the Seymour Centre in Sydney, a Sydney Peace Foundation spokesman said. NSW Premier Bob Carr will award the peace prize to Dr Ashrawi at a dinner...