World News Briefs -- August 11, 2009

Hamid Karzai's office announced a peace deal between
the Taliban and the Afghan government Photo: AFP

Hamid Karzai 'Will Not' Win Afghan Election Outright -- The Telegraph

Hamid Karzai does not have enough support to win outright in next week's Afghan presidential elections a new opinion poll suggests, raising the prospect of a closely-fought run off.

The US government-funded poll found that the president of Afghanistan led his rivals by a wide margin, but lacked the 50 per cent of the vote necessary to avoid a second round.

The poll put Mr Karzai on 36 per cent of the vote and his nearest rival, Dr Abdullah Abdullah on 20 per cent among registered voters.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iranian opposition puts election unrest toll at 69.

Iran purges Intelligence Ministry officials.

Iraq blasts Turkey for holding back on water.

Blasts kill at least 53 in Iraq. Series of bombings in Iraq targets Shiites.

Israeli FM: Mideast peace not in foreseeable future.

ASIA

Scores dead and hundreds feared missing from typhoons.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi convicted, returned to isolation.

Call for press club ban: Chinese pressure media.

Pakistan Taliban burns down schools.

Musharraf faces arrest on return to Pakistan.

AFRICA

Tribal clashes in southern Sudan kill 30.

Clinton speaks out against rape, violence in Congo.

700,000 children malnourished in Central African Republic: UN.

Hard-line Zimbabwe generals salute Tsvangirai.

EUROPE

Medvedev lambasts Ukraine leader.

16 bodies found after coal mine blast in Slovakia.

Chechen activist, husband found dead in car trunk.

A year after Georgian war, refugees still coping with losses.

Ex-Nazi officer guilty in WWII massacre in Italy.

AMERICAS

Ecuador's Correa kicks off second presidential term.

S. America concerned about US military in Colombia.

Hugo Chávez tells army to prepare for conflict with Colombia.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Kuwait nabs al-Qaida group planning US base attack.

Spain: Tourists safe from ETA attacks.

ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS

Soaring U.S. deficit may defy forecasts.

Testing week for US bond investors.