World News Briefs -- February 8, 2009

US Vice President Joe Biden addresses the participants of the International Conference on Security Policy, Sicherheitskonferenz, at the hotel 'Bayerischer Hof' in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Many notable leaders participate in the 45th annual Munich Security Conference until Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

MIDDLE EAST

Official: Yemen releases 170 al-Qaida suspects.

Military: 2 Gaza rockets hit southern Israel. But Israeli minister sees Hamas prisoner swap in weeks. Israeli polls indicate another coalition. More Israeli election news here.

Iran's Khatami to run in presidential election.

ASIA

Pakistan wants no-strings aid from US: Haqqani .... (WNU Editor: it took me 5 minutes to stop laughing when I read this article). While asking for money .... Pakistan defends freedom for rogue nuclear scientist. In Swat velley .... Headmaster flees 'living hell' in Pakistan valley

Australian wildfire death toll at 108: officials. Arson suspected. More news here and here.

Parched China seeds clouds, diverts rivers.

'Thousands' flee Tamil Tiger area. But Sri Lanka still hunts Tiger chief with victory in sight.

U.S. officials offer dismal review of war in Afghanistan.

2 Taliban die in Afghan village revenge killing.

Kyrgyzstan delays vote on US base.

AFRICA

Cholera deaths and cases continue to rise in Zimbabwe.

Algiers plague update.

Nigerian oil unions delay strike against kidnappings.

Sudan to meet Darfur rebels in Qatar. More News here.

EUROPE

Munich Security Conference blog.

Ireland's boom falls hard in global crisis.

Berlusconi under fire over Italian right-to-die case.

Dalai Lama arrives in Rome to be made honorary citizen.

AMERICAS

Lithium-rich Bolivia now a global player -- San Francisco Chronicle

US rancher takes center stage in Bolivia land grab.

Venezuela campaign gets rough.