BARACK OBAMA has begun one of the toughest sales jobs of his presidency, launching the much-awaited roll-out of his Afghan war strategy by informing top military and civilian advisers in Washington and Kabul and telephoning key allies around the globe.

Jockey Dean Mernagh and trainer Stewart Parr will finally have their appeals heard tomorrow against the punishments they received in the Black Oval case over a year ago.

US President George W. Bush today decried the latest surge in sectarian violence in Iraq and declared that for Iraqis “the choice is chaos or unity”.

With Roy White/Michael Patterson bowing out of the Condroz Rally, the final event of the 2001 Belgian Championship, the top Irish crew at the end of the two day, 22 stage event was Seamus Heron and Gerry McVeigh.