The supreme leader of Hamas has promised that the militant group will end missile attacks and other violence against Israel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today.

European Union officials said today they were cautiously optimistic about a Palestinian power-sharing deal reached by Hamas and Fatah political leaders in Saudi Arabia, but said it was too early to lift an international aid embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed today stepped down as the country’s interim leader soon after declaring a state of emergency, news reports said.

The rival Fatah and Hamas movements today agreed on a candidate for prime minister of their emerging coalition government in Palestine, turning to a US-educated professor to end months of infighting and help lift a painful international aid boycott.

US President George Bush today faces questions about North Korea’s claimed nuclear test and the political fallout from a congressional intern scandal.

European Union foreign ministers today considered a call for an immediate ceasefire for south Lebanon, working to overcome British reluctance and form a united front.

Israeli troops and tanks pulled out of northern Gaza early today after a bloody two-day sweep, killing 29 Palestinians, but Israeli aircraft pounded the area.

European Union leaders endorsed a plan today to channel aid to cash-starved Palestinians focusing on health, power supply and support for needy families while maintaining a funding freeze on the Hamas-led government.

EU leaders were today poised to endorse a plan to resume aid payments to cash-starved Palestinians focusing on health, social services and utilities such as heating and sanitation, while maintaining a funding freeze on the Hamas-led government.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has defended the decision to nationalise his country’s gas and energy sectors, saying before summit talks begin today with European and Latin American leaders that it was a necessary move to end 500 years of foreign exploitation.

Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela were heading today to a European summit amid criticism of recent moves making it tougher for foreign energy firms to do business in their countries.

European Union foreign ministers were today expected to give firm backing to a freeze on EU aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, but stressed they would seek alternative ways of providing money for humanitarian projects.

THE European Commission has warned that it could find it very difficult to disperse aid in Palestine if its offices continued to be attacked and personnel were in danger.

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.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera today left for three European countries to drum up support for island nation’s peace process, which has come under severe strain over a recent spike in violence and disagreement.

The European Commission today proposed that it negotiate a trade and co-operation accord with Iraq and committed itself to opening an office in Baghdad early next year.

RUSSIA and the European Union should take their relations to a new and more intense level, Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair said following talks with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Senior European Union officials will meet US President George Bush in Washington today amid uncertainty about the impact that the crisis gripping the 25-nation bloc could have on transatlantic relations.

Latin American countries urged the European Union yesterday to do more to help fight poverty by providing more trade access to its vast market and by stepping up aid to help combat the cultivation of drugs.

The European Union nations today failed to agree on lifting their 15-year-old ban on arms sales to China, a proposal that had drawn heavy criticism from the US and exposed internal divisions.

PRESIDENT George Walker Bush is once again coming to Europe and is due to visit Brussels on February 22.

Israel and the European Union have agreed plans to forge closer ties on everything from fighting terrorism to promoting free trade as part of the EU’s efforts to strengthen relations with nearby countries.

FIANNA FÁIL TD Sean Haughey drew criticism from Islamic and refugee groups last night for suggesting the go-ahead for the accession of Turkey to the EU could lead to the “Islamisation of Europe”.

THE race is on for the presidency of the European Commission.

The European Parliament has rejected a controversial agreement that would have seen the personal details of European airline passengers being shared with the United States.

THE EU has written to the world court to express its opposition to the opening of legal action against the West Bank security barrier being built by Israel, diplomats said.

THE battle has begun in Fine Gael for the nomination to stand for the European Parliament in the elections next June following yesterday’s unexpected resignation of John Cushnahan.

EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten warned there will be a clash of civilisations unless stability can be brought to central and Mideast.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today he wants to work closely with Nato and European authorities to tackle not only the immediate terrorist threat but the root causes terrorism.

An EU delegation today promised to help Pakistan cope with a flood of refugees expected to stream in from Afghanistan if the United States attacks.