Saturday, October 7 06

U.S. challenges Sudan's threats against countries lending troops to future U.N. Security Council-mandated peace operation, leading to what looks like a retraction by Khartoum, as new reports of civilian suffering accumulate (1,2). In Sri Lanka, two sides agreed to peace talks which could not be expedited before they were sidetracked by new fighting in the east and north. Russia's President Putin asks for wider regional backing of new policy toward Georgia. Somalia's Islamist rebels quickly becoming the dominant faction.