World News Briefs -- May 14, 2009

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seen here on May 13, 2009, accused the Bush-era CIA Thursday of misleading her about alleged torture of suspected terrorists and denied her failure to object to such tactics made her complict. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Brendan Hoffman)

Pelosi: CIA Misled Her On Waterboarding -- Yahoo News/AP

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bluntly accused the CIA on Thursday of misleading her and other lawmakers about its use of waterboarding during the Bush administration, escalating a controversy grown to include both political parties, the spy agency and the White House.

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MIDDLE EAST

Pope Benedict XVI calls for Palestinian state on visit to refugee camp. Pope criticizes Israel on Palestinian policy.

Alliance could swing Lebanon election.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits Jordan. Jordan king: Israel must accept Palestinian state.

Kuwaitis trade blame for stalemate ahead of vote.

Israel delays decision on returning Lebanese town.

ASIA

International appeals for LTTE surrender, Army cease-fire ignored in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka: At least 2,700 break out of war zone.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi charged over US intruder. More news here.

North Korea to try American journalists.

Tension in Kashmir as separatist leader Sajjad Lone stands in election.

India ends month-long elections.

Central Asia: Washington boosts aid to region to bolster Afghan war effort.

AFRICA

Nigerian workers protest against oil sector deregulation.

Eight months for Kenya aristocrat. Outrage in Kenya over sentence for white landowner.

US Navy detains 17 suspected pirates.

Rape is effective weapon of war, U.S. senators told.

Darfur rebels say Sudanese planes bombed positions.

EUROPE

EU ready to help Latin America combat drug trade.

Immigration in Italy: A mess in the Mediterranean.

Greek strike grounds flights, shuts ministries.

Russia offers to revive European arms-control deal.

AMERICAS

Guatemala head denies murder link.

Bolivia: Peru ties 'at risk' over refugee decision.

US earns Mexico's thanks over swine flu response.

Colombia senate delays vote on Uribe re-election.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Dismissal is sought in case against terrorism suspect.

Obama considers detaining terror suspects indefinitely.

Bitter start to a hearing on interrogation tactics.

Former FBI agent says harsh interrogation techniques not reliable.

Britain has freed more than half of those arrested as terrorism suspects.

US may label sat providers terrorists.

ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS

Chrysler to close 25% of dealers.

Spanish economy shrinks rapidly.

Economic crisis 'life and death' for Africans: Ping.