Turkey’s Islamic-rooted ruling party is planning to reintroduce a proposal to criminalise adultery, despite saying the controversial measure had been shelved.

STEPPING up the pressure on both the UN and Baghdad, President George W Bush last night warned Iraq “will be disarmed one way or the other” and the White House said Saddam Hussein would be a legitimate target if it comes to war.

Ending a high stakes diplomatic stand-off, the Turkish Cabinet today agreed to the deployment of tens of thousands of US combat troops ahead of a possible war in Iraq,

Turkey’s president today designated Abdullah Gul, a leading moderate figure from a party with Islamic roots, as prime minister and asked him to form the country’s first majority government in more than a decade.

Islamic leaders vow to maintain stance AFTER a landslide victory in Turkey’s elections, a party with Islamic roots yesterday pledged to maintain the nation’s pro-Western stance, quickly moving to soothe worries that the crucial ally would undergo a radical shift toward Islam.

Around 3,000 Muslims have held an anti-US rally in the Indonesian city of Surabaya to protest at the ongoing attacks on Afghanistan.

Police wielding canes and backed by water have broken up a rally of about 500 people against Malaysia's longtime leader Mahathir Mohamed.