VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict, in his strongest comments yet on the situation in Gaza, on Sunday condemned the violence that has killed hundreds of “innocent victims.” Speaking at his weekly Sunday noon prayer, the pope also asked his listeners in St Peter’s Square and around the world to …

GAZA (Reuters) – After 22 days of devastating Israeli air strikes and shelling, shocked Palestinians emerged onto the rubble-strewn streets of the Gaza Strip on Sunday to collect their dead and inspect their shattered homes. Women sat weeping amid the ruins of their houses, hiding their faces, many too distressed …

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) – European and conservative Arab leaders said on Sunday Israel and the Palestinians must turn a shaky ceasefire in Gaza into a permanent peace that prevents any recurrence of violence. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the host of a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm …

ALGIERS (Reuters) – Public anger over Gaza has added to economic and political strains in Algeria that will make for an uncomfortable test of nerves ahead of a presidential election in a country with a history of popular unrest. A steep drop in oil revenue, questions about the integrity of …

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission welcomed on Sunday the announcement of a gas deal between Russia and Ukraine but warned there had been false hopes before and was waiting to see gas actually flowing to European customers. “The Commission welcomes the announcement in Moscow of Prime Minister (Vladimir) Putin …

MOSCOW (Reuters) – An overnight outline deal struck by the prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine aims to restore gas supplies to eastern Europe, crippled since January 7 in a dispute between Moscow and Kiev over prices. Following is a look at who stands to win and lose from the …

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli forces killed a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip on Sunday in an area where militants had fired mortar bombs in defiance of a unilateral Israeli ceasefire, medical workers said. The incident occurred near the Gazan town of Khan Younis, the workers said, identifying the man as …

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan flies to Brussels on Sunday for a visit aimed at boosting the Muslim country’s troubled bid for European Union accession. Erdogan’s trip, his first to Brussels in four years, comes as Ankara faces EU pressure to speed up reforms in a decisive …

KABUL (Reuters) – A series of avalanches have killed at least 10 people in Afghanistan and authorities were still searching for those feared missing, an official said on Sunday. The avalanches hit the southern part of the Salang Tunnel Friday, the main highway linking southern Afghanistan with the north of …

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli forces and Palestinian militants exchanged fire in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, hours after Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire, the Israeli military and Hamas sources said. “Gunmen fired at our forces in the northern Gaza Strip,” an Israeli military spokesman said. “They returned fire from the …