Bulgarian and EU leaders have condemned today’s convictions in Libya of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor sentenced to death for allegedly infecting 400 children with the HIV virus.

France’s foreign minister today said Iran would face UN sanctions over its nuclear programme, but major powers were still divided on how far punishment should go.

World powers trying to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions are drawing up sanctions if Tehran fails to agree quickly to suspend uranium enrichment and return to negotiations.

The French foreign minister today called for Israel to lift its air, naval and land blockade of Lebanon, saying it was unnecessary with the UN ceasefire plan holding.

French President Jacques Chirac today appealed to the United States to speed up its response to Arab nations’ demands for changes to a UN resolution on ending the Middle East crisis.

FRENCH and American diplomats last night said they were getting closer to a common UN resolution for stopping the fighting in Lebanon.

French and American diplomats were getting closer to a common UN resolution for stopping the fighting in Lebanon, France’s foreign minister said today, but emphasised there was still progress to be made.

Top US and European officials today called for an end to the violence in Israel and Lebanon and the establishment of an international force to keep the peace – but they did not unanimously call for an immediate ceasefire or provide details on the proposed force.

World powers agreed today to send Iran back to the UN Security Council for possible punishment, saying the country has given no sign it means to negotiate seriously over its disputed nuclear programme.

Senior European Union officials stressed that a diplomatic solution over Iran’s nuclear programme is still possible but also appeared to leave open the possibility of Tehran being hit by sanctions.

The European Union today threatened to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government “unless it seeks peace by peaceful means,” in its strongest signal on the issue to date.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy today urged Iran to return rapidly to “reason” as the stand-off over its nuclear program moved to the UN Security Council.

FRANCE accused Iran yesterday of pursuing a secret military nuclear programme, drawing a swift rebuke from Tehran ahead of talks next week on a Russian proposal for resolving the dispute.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy today said that Iran’s nuclear programme was a cover for clandestine military activity.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy today said the international community needed to display a firm and united stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Turkish authorities have ordered poultry farmers in a quarantined area in western Turkey to hand over birds for culling or face fines and possible jail sentences as Turkey tried to contain an outbreak of suspected bird flu.

TURKISH authorities yesterday ordered farmers in a quarantined village in the west of the country to hand over their turkeys and chickens for culling or face fines in a bid to contain an outbreak of suspected bird flu.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy today said the European Union should co-ordinate its bird flu response measures to better protect itself.

French President Jacques Chirac will decide whether to attend the United Nations summit this month after he leaves the hospital where he has spent the past week, his office said today.

France’s foreign minister said today it could take time to identify the bodies of the passengers on the West Caribbean Airways plane that crashed in Venezuela, killing all 160 aboard.

France’s health minister convened an urgent meeting today to address security at hospitals after the gruesome killings of two psychiatric hospital workers that have shaken the country.

The French parliament opened a debate today on what is expected to become a new law that would allow terminally-ill patients the right to die.