North Korea today warned that US moves to build a missile shield were fuelling a dangerous arms race in space, as countries in the region urged the communist nation to halt apparent plans to launch a long-range missile.

A convoy of Russian diplomats came under fire Sunday as they were evacuating Baghdad, the Kremlin said.

In the latest sign of tensions between the US and Russia over Iraq, Moscow’s foreign ministry today claimed American air strikes had targeted the residential Baghdad neighbourhood where its embassy is located.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said today that Moscow was still weighing how to vote on a British compromise proposal on disarming Iraq.

Police in Russia were today keeping the hundreds of survivors of a siege at a Moscow cinema under virtual arrest today at hospitals throughout the city, fearing that Chechan hostage-takers may be among them.

More than 750 survivors of the Moscow hostage-taking were tonight recovering from their ordeal which ended this morning when Russian special forces stormed the theatre where they had been held by Chechen gunmen.

Fears are growing tonight for hundreds of hostages who were spending a third night at the mercy of Chechen rebels in a Moscow theatre.

Hopes for the safe release of dozens of foreigners, including two British citizens, being held hostage by Chechen rebels in a Moscow theatre, appeared dashed today amid claims of a deadlock in negotiations.

A host of countries around the world have condemned the United States after President George Bush imposed tariffs of up to 30% on imported steel.

Senior Russian and US officials began consultations in Moscow today that were expected to focus on potential terrorist threats coming from groups based in Afghanistan.