2008-04-26 06:03:16 -

NEW THIS DIGEST
US-MIDEAST-ABBAS INTERVIEW. Abbas says he failed to achieve peace talks progress.
JAPAN-OLYMPIC TORCH. The Japan leg of China's Olympic torch relay begins.
SRI LANKA-BUS BOMB. Bomb hidden on bus explodes in a fireball, killing 24 people.
PAKISTAN-BOMB BLAST. Peace talks will go on after car bombing kills 3.
COLOMBIA-PARAMILITARY SCANDAL. Scandal grows close to Colombia's president.
RUSSIA-MEDIA FREEDOM.

Lower House votes to widen slander definition.
MEXICO-OIL REFORM. Leftist lawmakers end 16-day blockade.
TOP STORIES
US-MIDEAST-ABBAS INTERVIEW
WASHINGTON _ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he failed to achieve any progress in Middle East peace talks with President George W. Bush and was returning home with little to show for his visit. By Mohammed Daraghmeh.
AP Photo WX102.
ZIMBABWE-ELECTIONS
HARARE, Zimbabwe _ Heavily armed police storm opposition headquarters and election observers' offices in Zimbabwe, arresting hundreds and beating up scores of people. The raids come four weeks after an unresolved election _ displaying forcefully that Robert Mugabe's regime intends to stay in power. Moved. By Angus Shaw. AP Photos.
WITH: FRANCE-SOUTH AFRICA-ZIMBABWE
IRAQ
BAGHDAD _ Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr calls for an end to Iraqi bloodshed on and said his threat of an «open war» applies only to U.S.-led foreign troops _ stepping back from a full-blown confrontation with the government over a crackdown against his followers. By Kim Gamel. AP Photos BAG103, BAG102, BAG101.
WITH: US-IRAQ-IRAN, UN-IRAQ, BLACKWATER-SUIT.
JAPAN-OLYMPIC TORCH
NAGANO, Japan _ The Japan leg of China's Olympic torch relay begins with thousands of riot police lining the streets, helicopters buzzing the skies and demonstrators rallying in a pro-Tibet prayer vigil. Initial skirmishes among protesters and police fail to disrupt the passing of the torch. Moved. By Eric Talmadge. AP Photos.
SRI LANKA-BUS BOMB
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka _ A suspected Tamil Tiger bomb hidden on the baggage rack of a packed rush-hour bus explodes in a fireball, killing 24 people at a bus station outside Sri Lanka's capital. At least 40 people are wounded. Moved. By Ravi Nessman. AP Photos.
PAKISTAN-BOMB BLAST
PESHAWAR, Pakistan _ Peace talks will go on even after a militant car bombing killed three people at a police station, Pakistan's new government and Taliban militants say. Moved. By Stephen Graham. AP Photos.
US-ELECTIONS
NEW YORK _ Barack Obama's efforts to shift attention away from the fiery remarks of his former pastor are set back with the broadcast of an interview in which the preacher says his quotes condemning America were taken out of context by people «for some very devious reasons.
AP Photos INJH106, INJH108, INJH111, NCEA106, NY130, NY131.
COLOMBIA-PARAMILITARY SCANDAL
BOGOTA, Colombia _ Ties between prominent politicians and paramilitary militias have 10 percent of Congress behind bars and another 10 percent under investigation, and the scandal has grown uncomfortably close to Colombia's popular president. By Toby Muse. AP Photo.
INTERNATIONAL COURT-DARFUR
THE HAGUE, Netherlands _ Human rights groups call on the United Nations and European Union to press Sudan to hand over two suspects charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. By Mike Corder.
RUSSIA-MEDIA FREEDOM

MOSCOW _ Russia's lower house of parliament votes to widen the definition of slander and libel and give regulators the authority to shut down media outlets found guilty of publishing such material. Moved.
US-POLYGAMIST RETREAT
SAN ANGELO, Texas _ The state of Texas is making a damning accusation by rounding up 462 children at a polygamous sect's ranch: The adults are forcing teenage girls into marriage and sex, creating a culture so poisonous that none should be allowed to keep their children. By Michelle Roberts.
AP Photos TXTG101, TXTG102, TXTG104.
MEXICO-OIL REFORM
MEXICO CITY _ Leftist lawmakers end a 16-day blockade of Mexico's Congress after agreeing on a national debate they hope will lead to defeat of the president's energy reform bill. By Julie Watson. AP Photos.
FRANCE-SOCIETE GENERALE
PARIS _ His former employer claims he caused one of the biggest trading losses in history and he's facing criminal charges for allegedly hacking into company computers, but that hasn't prevented ex-Societe Generale trader Jerome Kerviel from getting a new job _ as a computer consultant. Moved. By Jamey Keaten.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
US-MICROSOFT-YAHOO
SAN FRANCISCO _ Microsoft Corp. is no closer to buying Yahoo Inc. than when it made its $44.6 billion (¤28.6 billion) bid nearly three months ago, leaving the software maker in a quandary over whether the deal is still worth pursuing. By Business Writer Michael Liedtke.
US-OIL AT 120
HOUSTON _ Oil's meteoric rise to near $120 a barrel looks like more than just another economic bubble _ growing demand and tighter supplies are likely to keep prices high. Some analysts say even $200 a barrel would not be out of the question. By Business Writer John Porretto.
AP Photos PACK101, PACK107, PD103, NYBZ131. AP Graphic OIL PRICES.
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