BAGHDAD (AFP) Dozens of Iraqis gather in a dimly lit room to scan hundreds of pictures on computer screens -- disfigured images of burnt faces, blown up body parts, beheaded corpses.

JERUSALEM (AFP) US President George W. Bush was wrapping up a visit to Israel on Friday before heading on to the worlds biggest crude producer Saudi Arabia for talks on record oil prices that have hit Western consumers hard.

As U.S. President George W. Bush travels to the Middle East, Lebanons survival as a multi-ethnic, multi-denominational state is at stake. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite movements "made in Iran," army demonstrated its force by occupying the capital, Beirut.

WASHINGTON (AFP) The United States has warned Beijing over reported use of Chinese weapons by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the Asian giants continued sale of arms to Iran, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said.

WASHINGTON (AFP) Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will release a new audio-video message to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, US groups monitoring Islamist websites said Thursday.

BEIRUT (AFP) Squabbling Lebanese factions agreed on an Arab League-mediated deal on Thursday to begin talks on defusing a long-running feud that drove the deeply divided country to the brink of a new civil war.

WARSAW (AFP) Israeli writers were guests of honour at the 53rd annual Warsaw international book fair which opened Thursday featuring 600 publishing houses from 29 countries, organisers said.

WASHINGTON (AFP) The United States is not trying to create incentives to bring Iran to the negotiating table but rather is seeking ways to intensify pressure to force it to change its ways, the Pentagon said Thursday.

LONDON (AFP) The employers of a Palestinian cameraman who was killed by Israeli tank fire while filming in the Gaza Strip a month ago called for answers over his death from Israels military Thursday.

CANNES, France (AFP) Repressed memories, the horrors of war and Israels dubious role in a notorious Beirut refugee camp massacre are the themes of the Cannes film festivals first ever fully-animated documentary.