In Brief

* US TROOP WITHDRAWAL – The main Arab Sunni alliance that contested Iraq’s election said it had been a success, fuelling US hopes peaceful politics will help pave the way for a troop withdrawal.

*TORTURE – Legislation banning torture of detainees in US custody was sidetracked when House of Representatives Republicans insisted on adding an unrelated amendment on campaign financing. * VIOLENCE FEARED – Australian police stepped up security around Sydney’s beaches, fearing another eruption of racial violence after road-blocks found cars carrying knives, while hate messages circulated by mobile phone.* ACCUSATIONS OF SURRENDER – EU leaders welcomed a hard-fought budget deal as victory for the bloc, praising concessions by Tony Blair that earned the British prime minister accusations of surrender from critics at home.* SYRIAN AUTHORITIES TO BLAME – Detlev Mehlis, the outgoing head of a UN investigation into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, directly blames “Syrian authorities” for the first time.* ELECTIONS DELAYED – Palestinian officials pressure President Mahmoud Abbas to delay January elections because of split in his ruling Fatah faction that is strengthening its Hamas rival.* POST-WAR CONSTITUTION – Congo voted yesterday on whether to accept a post-war constitution aimed at bringing democracy to a country plagued by decades of dictatorship, war and chaos.* DIPLOMATIC ACTION – Faced with an increasingly hard line from Iran, the United States and Europe have stepped up planning for tougher diplomatic action should Tehran follow through on threats to resume critical nuclear activities, according to US officials and European diplomats.- Nampa-AFP-AP-Reuters* VIOLENCE FEARED – Australian police stepped up security around Sydney’s beaches, fearing another eruption of racial violence after road-blocks found cars carrying knives, while hate messages circulated by mobile phone.* ACCUSATIONS OF SURRENDER – EU leaders welcomed a hard-fought budget deal as victory for the bloc, praising concessions by Tony Blair that earned the British prime minister accusations of surrender from critics at home.* SYRIAN AUTHORITIES TO BLAME – Detlev Mehlis, the outgoing head of a UN investigation into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, directly blames “Syrian authorities” for the first time.* ELECTIONS DELAYED – Palestinian officials pressure President Mahmoud Abbas to delay January elections because of split in his ruling Fatah faction that is strengthening its Hamas rival.* POST-WAR CONSTITUTION – Congo voted yesterday on whether to accept a post-war constitution aimed at bringing democracy to a country plagued by decades of dictatorship, war and chaos.* DIPLOMATIC ACTION – Faced with an increasingly hard line from Iran, the United States and Europe have stepped up planning for tougher diplomatic action should Tehran follow through on threats to resume critical nuclear activities, according to US officials and European diplomats.- Nampa-AFP-AP-Reuters