Catholic bishops met in Istanbul today and decided the Pope’s visit to Turkey in November should go ahead despite anger in the Islamic world over his comments about Islam and holy war, Vatican spokesman George Marovic said.

Arab and Islamic governments should pressure the United Nations to ban the slandering of religions, said more than 200 Arab politicians who renewed their criticism today of the contentious Prophet Muhammad cartoons.

Turkey has given human rights guarantees, setting the stage for a recommendation on beginning talks over EU membership, the bloc’s expansion commissioner said today.