Middle East

Israels defence minister has ruled that the man who shot dead four Israeli Arabs is not a terrorist, because he is Jewish.

Iraqi and U.S. military personnel, stationed at guard towers at a nearby base with a clear view of the bridge, report that they saw nothing out of the ordinary occurring on the bridge all morning.

Authorities say stampede occurred when thousands of panicked pilgrims crushed railing and plunged into river after rumor spread that suicide bomber was in the crowd.

Move challenging PM Ariel Sharon is first time any party in Israel has tried to oust a serving prime minister from its own party.

Egypt has reaffirmed its strong support for a future Palestinian state on land Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War.

One of Iraq's Sunni Arab political parties says it will continue efforts to amend the country's new constitution before it is presented to the Iraqi people.

2 Israeli security guards wounded; hours later, Israel approved border security deal with Egypt to facilitate complete Israeli pullout from Gaza Strip.

President Jalal Talabani says constitution ready for national referendum, scheduled for October 15.

Ceremony to mark completion of draft expected later Sunday in Baghdad.

Shi'ite Muslims and Kurds have agreed on a revised draft constitution but Sunni leaders denied suggestions that the proposed changes to the draft constitution made it acceptable to them.

Opposition parties say it is impossible to have a free vote under President Pervez Musharraf.

President Bush says US efforts in Iraq will require more time and sacrifice.

Mohammed Deif says Israel's withdrawal from Gaza Strip is a victory for armed resistance.

A military statement Saturday says the prisoners were brought to the prison from detention facilities throughout Iraq, and released over the last four days.

Authorities in Morocco and Turkey have arrested two men blamed for unleashing a computer worm that disrupted networks across the United States last week.