The minority community has faced years of violence and intimidation from al-Qaida in Iraq and other Islamic extremists. Many also fear the Kurds want incorporate parts of the area into their semiautonomous region in Northern Iraq.

In the rocket attacks, one Kassam landed between two kindergartens in the Eshkol region. Another two rockets hit open areas nearby and a fourth hit the Sdot Negev region. Four mortar shells also landed next to a western Negev neighborhood.

Both parties forming Iceland's new coalition government support the appointment of Johanna Sigurdardottir, the island nation's 66-year-old social affairs minister, as Iceland's interim prime minister.

Israeli troops shot and killed zoo animals By Ashraf Helmi, Videographer, and Megan Hirons, Photographer Published: January 25, 2009, 23:25 The Gaza Zoo reeks of death. But zookeeper Emad Jameel Qasim doesn't appear to react to the stench as he

If Hamas holds out it will shift the balance of power in the Middle East further towards Iran and the radicals. Prince Saud al-Faisal, to excoriate Hamas for splitting from Fatah in the post-Arafat era and precipitating the Israeli attack.

Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the recently passed law governing the demobilization of armed groups in Colombia is wholly inadequate. It threatens to guarantee the impunity of those responsible for heinous and widespread human rights.

Hamas bears full responsibility for the war in Gaza, a top EU official said Monday in the Strip, calling the group "a terrorist movement." At this time we have to also recall the overwhelming responsibility of Hamas,"

It happens once in a while: That tiny thread holding the fine balance of nature together somehow snaps. This is what's happening in Liberia. Millions of crop devouring caterpillars known as "army worms" are taking over the country.

Protesters who have mounted vocal demonstrations in recent weeks against the collapse of the economy squared up to police, spattered parliament with eggs and paint, and at one point surrounded the prime minister's car...

Israel has resumed shipments of produce to Gaza, according to the Israeli Agricultural Association, which explained in a statement Sunday that produce shipped to the region will gradually increase as long as quiet prevails in southern Israel.