Syria will exercise its influence on Hezbollah if “circumstances” change in Lebanon, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said today after meeting with Syria’s president.

Britain should make concessions on its disputed EU budget rebate in order for the bloc to come up with a spending plan for 2007-2013, the Spanish foreign minister said today.

Three-way talks on the future of Gibraltar began today with Spanish annoyance over Britain’s use of the tiny colony for repairing nuclear submarines high on the agenda.

Three masked assailants who seized the Spanish consulate in the Swiss capital, Berne, today, left the building after a three-hour siege.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos has demanded an explanation from the White House for the US president’s remark that insurgents in Iraq were ”emboldened” by Spain’s decision to withdraw its troops.

Spanish troops will not return to Iraq under any international mandate, the foreign minister said today just as George Bush and Tony Blair said they wanted Nato involvement in the country.

Spain’s withdrawal of its troops from Iraq should not harm long-term relations with the United States, Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos said today, adding that the country would honour its international commitments and remain steadfast in the fight against terrorism.

A deal has been reached to end the 38-day standoff at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity that would divide among several countries the 13 suspected militants Israel wants deported, an Israeli official said tonight.

Israeli premier Ariel Sharon today offered Yasser Arafat a one way ticket into exile as Israeli forces shelled a heavily fortified Palestinian security headquarters.

The Israeli government is proposing Yasser Arafat be given a permanent base outside of the Middle East.