Insurgents have carried out a series of attacks across Iraq, killing more than 30 people including 3 American soldiers. Officials in Baghdad say car bombs were detonated in quick succession across the capital. At least two dozen Iraqis died, mostly soldiers and national guardsmen, another 90 others were wounded. Three US soldiers were also killed and two others were hurt in two separate car bombings.

    The United States and Italy have completed inquiry into the shooting death of an Italian intelligence agent by US troops in Iraq, but disagree on the conclusions. A joint statement by the US State Department and Italy’s Foreign Ministry says after examining the evidence, the two sides agreed on the facts, findings and recommendations on many issues. But at last they failed to arrive at a shared final conclusion on the incident and reporting this to their respective governments.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will give equipment and training to Palestinian security forces. Mr. Putin also has offered to help rebuild Palestinian areas damaged by four and a half years of conflict with Israel. VOA’s Larry James reports the statement came at a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah at the end of the Russian leader’s three-day visit to the region.

    The Russian president said his country would help rebuild Palestinian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, an apparent offer to help maintain order and provide services after Israel pulls out of Gaza this summer. He called on both the Palestinians and the Israelis to work to get the peace process back on track. For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said both sides should push ahead and realize commitments they’ve made.

    "We are insistent to achieve peace and we call the state of Israel to implement the road map, to speed up the implementation of Sharm el Sheikh accord , and to enforce our efforts for us and them. "
Mr. Putin also came here with an offer to host a peace conference in Moscow. The idea was welcomed by the Palestinians but rejected by Israel and the United States. US and Israeli officials say the time is not right for such a meeting. Larry James VOA News, Jerusalem.

    India’s Prime Minister and his visiting Japanese counterpart, Junichiro Koizumi have agreed on an eight-point agenda for closer ties between the two Asian countries. They signed a joint statement in New Delhi that proposes a high-level strategic dialogue and suggests steps to boost trade ties between the two nations. They also urged an early expansion of the United Nations Security Council in which both countries aspire a permanent seat.

    Organization of American States foreign ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of a democracy conference in Santiago, have reached an agreement ending a bitter political dispute over who will be the next OAS secretary-general. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez had dropped out of the race in favor of the Chilean Interior Minister. VOA’s David Gollust reports.

    The deal ending the months-long stalemate over the OAS leadership post was finalized on the sidelines of the Community of Democracies meeting here, with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice playing a key mediation role. Mexican Foreign Minister Derbez, who was the United States favored candidate for the job, announced his withdrawal at a surprise news conference attended by Ms. Rice and Mr. Insulza, who will be elected by consensus at an O.A.S. meeting in Washington Monday. Mr. Insulza, a former Chilean foreign minister, said his goals as secretary-general will be strengthening, protecting and promoting democracy in the hemisphere, this is at a time when democratic rule in some member states, notably Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, is under strain. Ms. Rice held direct and telephone consultations with OAS colleagues aimed at breaking the impasse throughout her current four-nation Latin American trip, which ends late Friday with talks in El Salvador. David Gollust VOA News, Santiago.

    Taiwan’s opposition leader and China's President Hu Jingtao have promised to work together to try to end hostilities between Beijing and Taipei. The talks Friday in Beijing between leaders of Nationalist Party and China’ s ruling communist Party represents the highest-level meeting between the two sides since China’s Civil War in 1949.it comes amid increasing concern in Taiwan that Beijing could move toward formal independence.

    The United Nations has appointed Ian Martin as the high commissioner for human rights operations in Nepal, which begins in May.