Two top Republicans dismissed President George Bush’s pleas for patience on Iraq and proposed legislation demanding a new strategy by mid-October to restrict the mission of US troops.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will lay out US plans for a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Hezbollah fighting today, an administration official said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Congress today to approve an unprecedented US plan to share nuclear technology with India, saying it was “not enabling a larger weapons programme".

BOB GELDOF and Bono are among the bookmakers’ tips to win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, alongside more orthodox candidates like campaigners against nuclear arms or a peace broker for Indonesia.

The world faces an estimated 50% chance of a nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological attack over the next five years, according to US national-security analysts surveyed for a congressional study released yesterday.

OPPOSITION leader Viktor Yushchenko last night declared victory in Ukraine’s presidential election and took a symbolic oath of office, warning that the country was on the verge of civil conflict.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko declared victory in Ukraine’s presidential election and took a symbolic oath of office today, warning that the country was on the verge of civil conflict.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators were flooding the centre of the Ukrainian capital Kiev today in protest at the alleged fraud in electing a pro-Moscow president.

UKRAINE was on the edge of revolt last night after official results showed prime minister Viktor Yanukovych winning Ukraine’s bitterly-fought presidential run-off.

POPE JOHN PAUL II, approaching the 25th anniversary of his reign, is favourite to win the Nobel Peace Prize to be announced in Oslo today.

THE UNITED STATES yesterday announced new plans to pacify angry former Iraqi soldiers and create a new Iraqi army as two visiting US senators said American soldiers could stay for more than five years.

IRAQI Christians observed a sombre Easter Sunday, praying for an end to post-war chaos and uncertainty, as a first convoy of food aid reached Baghdad.

The United States has issued a stark warning that North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme could be much further advanced than had been thought.

Nato must adapt to play a bigger role in the fight against global terrorism or risk becoming marginalised, an influential US politician warned today.

The US stand-off with China over the captured spy plane shows signs of easing.

The Chinese fighter pilot who collided with a US spy plane had challenged the American plane on previous occasions, a US senator claimed today.