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The scene of devastation caused by the explosion of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 that killed 270 people. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on a landmark visit to Tripoli Friday, heralding a new chapter in Washington's reconciliation with the former enemy state.(AFP/File)

Rice meets Kadhafi on historic Libya visit

21 minutes ago

TRIPOLI (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on a landmark visit to Tripoli Friday, heralding a new chapter in Washington's reconciliation with the former enemy state.

  • US President George W. Bush waves from the steps of Marine One September 4, 2008 at the White House in Washington, DC. Bush is likely to announce a decision on US troops levels in Iraq next week, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Friday.(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)
    Bush likely to unveil Iraq troop decision next week Fri Sep 5, 1:15 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush is likely to announce a decision on US troops levels in Iraq next week, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Friday.

  • Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (L) welcomes US Vice President Dick Cheney in Kiev. Cheney urged Ukraine's leaders to unite and pointed to Russia as the reason for the country's woes as he held talks Friday with the deeply divided president and prime minister.(AFP/Sergei Supinsky)
    Cheney urges divided Ukraine to unite against Russia 'threat' Fri Sep 5, 1:02 PM ET

    KIEV (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney urged Ukraine's leaders on Friday to unite against the "threat" posed by Russia at separate talks with the country's deeply divided president and prime minister.

  • Iraqi children watch a US soldier as he uses an explosive detector during a joint patrol with the Iraqi army in the southern Baghdad neighbourhood of Abu Dashr on September 4, 2008. The United States would make only modest cuts in US force levels in Iraq early next year under a plan presented to President George W. Bush that calls for a shift in forces to Afghanistan, US defense officials said.(AFP/File/Ahmad al-Rubaye)
    Modest US force cuts proposed for Iraq: defense official Fri Sep 5, 2:40 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top US defense officials have recommended US President George W. Bush order only a modest US troop withdrawal from Iraq next year, with some of the forces shifted to Afghanistan, officials told AFP Friday.

  • US President George W. Bush (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), seen in 2007, listen to a translator during a press conference at the Bush family house in Kennebunkport, Maine. The United States will likely scrap a US-Russia civilian nuclear cooperation pact next week in response to Moscow's actions in Georgia, a US official said Friday. Bush and Putin inked the agreement in 2007.(AFP/File/Saul Loeb)
    US may scrap Russia nuclear cooperation next week: official Fri Sep 5, 3:17 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States will likely scrap a US-Russia civilian nuclear cooperation pact next week in response to Moscow's actions in Georgia, a US official said Friday.

  • A US Marine soldier sits alert in a tank before going to combat, at camp Dwyer in the south of Helmand Province, southwest of capital Kabul in May 2008. A top US commander said Friday he needs more troops to counter growing insurgent violence in Afghanistan amid signs the rebels are preparing for a winter campaign for the first time.(AFP/File/Massoud Hossaini)
    McCain displays tough security image Fri Sep 5, 2:58 PM ET

    ST PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) - John McCain has put the world on notice that he will take a tough stand on terror and international threats, vowing America cannot turn a blind eye on aggression.

  • Republican presidential candidate John McCain (C) with his wife Cindy (L) and running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R), takes the stage one more time at a campaign event in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The US presidential election campaign went into full swing Friday under the shadows of a struggling economy, with unemployment figures soaring to a five-year high and triggering recession fears.(AFP/Robyn Beck)
    McCain, Obama woo voters amid struggling economy 55 minutes ago

    DETROIT, Michigan (AFP) - The US presidential election campaign went into full swing Friday under the shadows of a struggling economy, with unemployment figures soaring to a five-year high and triggering recession fears.

  • US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill, seen here in July 2008, called on North Korea Friday to accept the inspection and verification of its nuclear facilities as part of ongoing six-nation disarmament talks.(AFP/File/Samuel Kubani)
    US urges NKorea to accept nuclear verification Fri Sep 5, 11:38 AM ET

    BEIJING (AFP) - US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill called on North Korea Friday to accept the inspection and verification of its nuclear facilities as part of ongoing six-nation disarmament talks.

  • The street in front of the US State Department in 2001. The US State Department on Friday rejected Russian criticism of the United States for sending a sophisticated warship to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.(AFP/File/Mike Theiler)
    US rejects Russian criticism over aid deliveries Fri Sep 5, 2:38 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US State Department on Friday rejected Russian criticism of the United States for sending a sophisticated warship to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.

  • Two men stand atop the wreckage of their houses after the passage of Hurricane Gustav, in Paso Real de San Diego, Pinar del Rio province, 100 km west of Havana, in August 2008. The US government has offered Cuba humanitarian aid for its citizens affected by Hurricane Gustav, but through non-government channels, the State Department said Friday.(AFP/File/Str)
    US offers Cuba aid for hurricane victims 1 hour, 21 minutes ago

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US government said Friday it was trying to aid victims of severe Caribbean storms by offering Cuba supplies via relief groups and by releasing funds for Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

  • US Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin addresses the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 3, 2008. An investigation into possible ethics breaches by Palin will be completed by October 10, three weeks earlier than scheduled, Alaska lawmakers said Friday.(AFP/File/Paul J. Richards)
    Palin 'troopergate' probe out on Oct 10: Alaska govt Fri Sep 5, 3:43 PM ET

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AFP) - An investigation into possible ethics breaches by Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin will be completed by October 10, three weeks earlier than scheduled, Alaska lawmakers said Friday.

  • Actress Fran Drescher attends the Black and White Gala for Barack Obama at a private residence in August 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. Drescher will serve as the newest envoy for US public diplomacy, with trips planned later this month to eastern Europe, the State Department said Friday.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Frederick M. Brown)
    US to name TV star Fran Drescher as public diplomacy envoy Fri Sep 5, 4:23 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - Television star Fran Drescher will serve as the newest envoy for US public diplomacy, with trips planned later this month to eastern Europe, the State Department said Friday.

  • Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his wife Cindy wave after McCain's speech at the Republican National Convention in St Paul, Minnesota, on September 4.(AFP/Robyn Beck)
    McCain vows change in big convention speech Thu Sep 4, 7:07 PM ET

    ST PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) - John McCain Thursday vowed he and running mate Sarah Palin would shake up "do nothing" Washington with a new wave of change as he was set to accept the Republican presidential nomination.

  • Russian troops ride on an APC in Tskhinvali. Foreign ministers from six ex-Soviet countries backed Russia's role in its conflict with Georgia, but stopped short of recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.(AFP/Viktor Drachev)
    Cheney criticises Russia on Georgia visit Thu Sep 4, 5:46 PM ET

    TBILISI (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney accused Russia Thursday of an "illegitimate" invasion to redraw the map of Georgia and cast doubt on whether Russia could be trusted as an international partner.

  • An agitator (L) protesting against India's disputed nuclear energy deal with the US, in Mumbai in June, 2008. The United States inched towards a deal Thursday in its efforts to persuade nuclear supplier nations to lift a 34-year-old embargo on trade with India, a diplomat at negotiations said.(AFP/File/Indranil Mukherjee)
    US inches towards India nuclear deal: diplomat Thu Sep 4, 10:55 AM ET

    VIENNA (AFP) - The United States inched towards a deal Thursday in its efforts to persuade nuclear supplier nations to lift a 34-year-old embargo on trade with India, a diplomat at negotiations said.

  • US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill holds a press conference in March 2008. Hill left Thursday for talks in Beijing with his Asian negotiating partners to try to determine whether North Korea had begun to rebuild its nuclear plant, officials said.(AFP/File/Nicholas Ratzenboeck)
    US envoy leaves for North Korea nuclear talks in Beijing Thu Sep 4, 4:31 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US envoy left here Thursday for talks in Beijing with his Asian negotiating partners to try to determine whether North Korea had begun to rebuild its nuclear plant, officials said.

  • US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama speaks to the media in front of his bus after touring the Voith Siemens Hydro Power Plant in York, Pennsylvania. Obama said Thursday a sharp string of attacks by Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin were meant to divert from her party's shortage of policy ideas.(AFP/Saul Loeb)
    Democrats gingerly fire back at Palin Thu Sep 4, 4:58 PM ET

    ST PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) - Democrats Thursday set about the delicate task of hitting back at Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin after she muscled into the political bullring in a combative convention debut.

  • Rudolph Giuliani, former New York mayor, speaks at the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Giuliani launched a scalding assault on Barack Obama on Wednesday, branding him the least experienced presidential candidate in 100 years.(AFP/Stan Honda)
    Giuliani mans barricades as Republicans attack Thu Sep 4, 9:53 AM ET

    ST PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) - Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani launched a scalding assault on Barack Obama on Wednesday, branding him the least experienced presidential candidate in 100 years.

  • A masked Pakistani tribesman patrols the mountain area of Wana, in South Waziristan, Pakistan, in 2007. The White House refused Thursday to comment directly on Pakistani anger at a cross-border raid by Afghanistan-based international forces just days before Pakistan's presidential vote.(AFP/File)
    US mum on Pakistan raid Thu Sep 4, 12:56 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House refused Thursday to comment directly on Pakistani anger at a cross-border raid by Afghanistan-based international forces just days before Pakistan's presidential vote.

  • US general in Iraq David Petraeus is pictured in May 2008. US President George W. Bush is "considering his options" on troop levels in Iraq after receiving Petraeus's advice, the White House said Thursday.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla)
    Bush mulling Iraq troop recommendations Thu Sep 4, 5:45 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush is drawing closer to a decision on US troop levels in Iraq after receiving top US commander General David Petraeus's advice, the White House said Thursday.