Authorities said militant attacks last month killed at least 670 Iraqis, almost 200 more than in April. A suicide car bombing yesterday wounded 15 at the main checkpoint to Baghdad's International Airport, while the U.S. said American soldiers had captured a former Hussein-regime spy Monday. Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari said U.S.-led forces must remain in Iraq until its own forces can secure the nation. Separately, Annan fired staffer Joseph Stephanides over his role in the U.N. oil-for-food scandal.
Wolfowitz took over as president of the World Bank and suggested insurgent violence is a barrier to expanding the bank's role in the reconstruction of Iraq.
Jakarta sealed off its embassy in Australia and quarantined staff after a package containing a "biological agent" was delivered there. Officials linked the incident to outrage over the conviction in Bali of an Australian on drug charges.
Indonesia said 13 people have been arrested over last weekend's twin bombings in a Christian town on Sulawesi Island that killed 20.
The Dutch appeared poised to reject the EU constitution, with polls suggesting up to 58% set to vote "no," likely dealing a fatal blow to the beleaguered charter after the French defeat.
A suicide bomb tore through a mosque in southern Afghanistan during a Muslim cleric's funeral, killing 20, including a police chief.
Muslim youths set fire to shops in Karachi as sectarian unrest continued despite a shutdown of Pakistan's largest city called by a hard-line Islamic alliance.
Japanese patrol ships were locked in a sea standoff with South Korean vessels over an alleged fishing violation by a Korean boat.
Beijing suspects a Hong Kong-based Straits Times reporter detained in China was spying for Taiwan, his wife said.
China called a resolution to expand the Security Council "dangerous" and hinted it might use its veto power to block final approval.
The Washington Post confirmed a report that former FBI official W. Mark Felt was the Watergate source "Deep Throat."
Tsang won the backing of Hong Kong's leading pro-Beijing party for the city's top job, showing his success in easing loyalty concerns.
Protesters stormed into the Kyrgyz Supreme Court, evicting several dozen activists who seized the building a month ago.
A Thai court cleared four Muslims of belonging to al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah and plotting to bomb embassies and tourist spots.
South Korea may open a world stem cell bank, as cloning pioneer Hwang said he plans to unveil such a facility by year's end.
