World News Briefs -- March 26, 2009

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Azhar Sher speaks with an Afghan National Police officer at the district center near Forward Operating Base Baylough in the Zabul province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2009. Sher is assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Mancini

MIDDLE EAST

Increased attacks on Iraqi forces south of Baghdad .... but .... Iraq attacks at lowest since August 2003.

'Billions wasted' in Iraq rebuilding.

'We want a change,' Iran reformist says.

Israel violated laws of war in Gaza, says Human Rights Watch.

ASIA

Pakistan Taliban: Bomb that killed 11 was revenge.

Rebel’s return stirs tensions in Indonesia.

US concerned over assertive China.

Thailand offers to mediate Burmese talks.

Aid organizations in Sri Lanka deny siding with rebels.

AFRICA

Ousted Madagascar leader defiant. More news here.

Sudan's Beshir flouts war crimes warrant in Egypt. Egypt supports the Sudanese leader.

Sudan's Bashir goes to Libya, defying ICC.

Somali interior minister wounded by roadside bomb.

EUROPE

Bosnia risks dliding into turmoil, diplomat says.

Czech collapse sends shiver through Europe.

Czech PM says election is only way out of crisis.

Tensions grow in Georgia over accusations of a plot.

Army influence wanes as Turkey erases memory of coups.

Pro-Russia protest against US frigate in Sevastopol.

AMERICAS

Clinton says US shares responsibility for Mexico's drug violence.

Ecuador's protectionist response to global crisis helps some, worries others.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Director of FBI urges renewal of Patriot Act.

Saudi Arabia: Senior al-Qaida leader surrenders.

White House to keep agencies’ focus on terrorism.

British-run orphanage in Bangladesh 'is Islamist training camp'.

Judge defends pretrial secrecy of 9/11 documents.

FINANCIAL/ECONOMIC CRISIS

U.S. Administration unveils financial system overhaul.

'I'm having a very good crisis,' says Soros as hedge fund managers make billions off recession.

Central America looks to U.S. for solution to economic crisis.

Is the U.S. the new China? Or vice-versa?