Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has underlined her commitment to continue peace talks.Greeting French counterpart Bernard Kouchner, the Israeli Prime Minister-in-waiting said she would press ahead with US-sponsored peace negotiations.

In Turkey, thousands of people have gathered to pay their respects to 15 soldiers killed, according to military officials, by Kurdish fighters in the south-east of the country.

An Iranian spokesman calls on Pakistan to work harder to fight terrorism, as it is confirmed that Jondollah has murdered Iranian hostages.