North Korea and Syria today denied claims that they are co-operating on a Syrian nuclear programme.

Iraq police have found this morning the tortured and blindfolded bodies of 13 Pakistani and Indian pilgrims and their Iraqi driver.

A group of pilgrims from Pakistan and India were ambushed and killed on their way to the Shiite holy city of Karbala, police said today.

A survivor testified today at the genocide trial of Saddam Hussein that Iraqi warplanes bombarded a Kurdish village with chemical weapons in 1987 and helicopters pursued those who fled into the hills and bombed them.

Syria has reservations about the findings of the UN investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, but will continue to co-operate, a cabinet minister has said.

President Bashar Assad, responding to weeks of intense pressure, announced today that Syria would move its troops to the Lebanese-Syrian border in a two-step pull-back that he said should satisfy international demands for a complete withdrawal.

Kevin Darley is “likely” to partner Percussionist in the Vodafone Derby, according to the colt’s trainer John Gosden.

Cairdeas, an easy winner at Naas earlier this month, was the subject of a huge ante-post gamble for the Vodafone Derby today.

All the leading fancies stood their ground as a total of 25 horses were left at the second forfeit stage for the Vodafone Derby today.

Midfielders Edu and Gilberto return to the Arsenal squad for tomorrow’s final Premiership game of the season against Leicester after recovering from eye and hamstring injuries respectively.

Robert Pires is set to return to Arsenal’s starting line-up at Fulham on Sunday after being rested from the midweek trip to Portsmouth.

Premiership latest:

Fredrik Ljungberg and Jose Reyes returned to the Arsenal line-up at home to Birmingham as Arsene Wenger’s Barclaycard Premiership champions continued their quest to finish the league season unbeaten.

Israeli troops raided the West Bank town of Qalqiliya early today, killing three Palestinians and seriously wounding a fourth man.

Ashley Cole and Freddie Ljungberg are both ruled out of tomorrow’s Barclaycard Premiership clash at home to Leeds.

Ray Parlour could make his return to the first team squad against Leeds tomorrow after coming through 65 minutes of a reserve team game this week.

Premiership result

Premiership latest

Premiership latest

Thierry Henry shrugs aside concerns over his fitness to lead Arsenal’s attack against Liverpool at Highbury as Arsene Wenger’s side looks to stop their season falling even further apart.

West Ham have signed Arsenal goalkeeper Rami Shaaban on a one-month loan.

Tonight's Premiership team news.

SYRIA yesterday defiantly dismissed allegations by US President George W Bush that it was supporting and harbouring terrorists.

Syria today insisted it is engaged in quiet, constructive diplomacy with the United States.

Facing a hail of accusations by Washington that he has weapons of mass destruction and is sheltering Iraqi leaders, Syria’s president held talks today with a British envoy.

Syria is “doing its best” to stop the war in Iraq by supporting the Iraqi people politically, not by providing military assistance to the Iraqi regime, as Washington has charged, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said today.

Arsenal goalkeeper Rami Shaaban will be out of action for several months after breaking his leg in training on Christmas Eve.

Arsenal defender Ashley Cole insisted that the Gunners’ Champions League victory in Rome had proved they can beat any side in Europe on their day.

Roma 1 Arsenal 3

Champions League

Champions League Latest

Roma 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 3 Spurs 0

Rami Shaaban has beaten Stuart Taylor to the goalkeeper’s shirt as replacement for David Seaman for tomorrow’s north London derby with Tottenham at Highbury.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must decide who will play in goal in tomorrow’s north London derby against Tottenham at Highbury.

ARSENAL must face either a Spanish giant like Barcelona, Valencia or European Cup holders Real Madrid at the next stage of the Champions League, or else one of the Italian aces such as AC Milan, Inter and Juventus.

Arsene Wenger hailed new goalkeeper Rami Shaaban as 10-man Arsenal clinched top spot in their Champions League Group with a goalless draw against PSV Eindhoven.

Arsenal 0

Arsenal v PSV teams

RAMI SHAABAN will make his Arsenal goalkeeping debut in place of the injured David Seaman in the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven at Highbury tonight and could put down a marker for his first-team future.

Rami Shaaban will make his Arsenal goalkeeping debut in place of the injured David Seaman in the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven at Highbury tomorrow and could put down a marker for his first-team future.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will make his comeback after a nine-month knee injury lay-off when Arsenal take on Sunderland in the Worthington Cup on Wednesday.

Premiership latest (kick-off 2pm unless otherwise stated):