THE death yesterday of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, has unleashed a scramble for power in the world’s largest oil producer.

US oil prices have hit a fresh 13-year high, edging up toward $40 a barrel as traders remained anxious of a possible sabotage attack on oil facilities in the volatile Middle East.

Hollywood stars have sent a letter to George W Bush urging him not to start a war with Iraq.

America is likely to effectively veto a British-backed agreement which would give teeth to a ban on so-called germ warfare, it was reported today.