Over 40 die at peace meeting

ISLAMABAD – A suicide bomber blew himself up yesterday at a large meeting called by tribal elders pushing for peace in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 100, witnesses and officials said.

US kills al-Qaeda leader * BAGHDAD – A US military helicopter fired a guided missile to kill a wanted al-Qaeda leader in Iraq from Saudi Arabia who was responsible for the bombing deaths of five American soldiers, a spokesman said yesterday. Israeli aircraft target Hamas office * GAZA CITY – Israeli aircraft sent missiles slamming into the office of the prime minister of Hamas-ruled Gaza before dawn yesterday, pressing forward with an offensive that has killed nearly 70 Palestinians in two days of fighting.A 21-month-old girl was among the dead in new violence.Palestinians call off peace talks * GAZA – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace negotiations with Israel yesterday, demanding it end a Gaza offensive that has killed more than 100 Palestinians, many of them civilians.Clinton just behind Obama: Poll * WASHINGTON – Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly trails rival Barack Obama in Texas and the two are virtually tied in Ohio ahead of critical contests that could decide the fate of her presidential bid, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle poll released yesterday.Armenia must talk: US * YEREVAN – The United States urged Armenia’s warring political forces to start talking after a night of rioting in which eight people were killed and dozens more injured.Pressure on Iran over nukes * VIENNA – Iran faces pressure at a UN nuclear watchdog governors meeting starting today to address Western intelligence alleging it conducted covert studies into how to make nuclear weapons.US negotiator leaves N Korea * BEIJING – The top US negotiator on North Korea was due to leave China yesterday without meeting his North Korean counterpart, who he said was “not ready” for talks aimed at pushing forward a stalled nuclear disarmament plan.Israeli aircraft target Hamas office * GAZA CITY – Israeli aircraft sent missiles slamming into the office of the prime minister of Hamas-ruled Gaza before dawn yesterday, pressing forward with an offensive that has killed nearly 70 Palestinians in two days of fighting.A 21-month-old girl was among the dead in new violence. Palestinians call off peace talks * GAZA – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace negotiations with Israel yesterday, demanding it end a Gaza offensive that has killed more than 100 Palestinians, many of them civilians.Clinton just behind Obama: Poll * WASHINGTON – Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly trails rival Barack Obama in Texas and the two are virtually tied in Ohio ahead of critical contests that could decide the fate of her presidential bid, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle poll released yesterday.Armenia must talk: US * YEREVAN – The United States urged Armenia’s warring political forces to start talking after a night of rioting in which eight people were killed and dozens more injured.Pressure on Iran over nukes * VIENNA – Iran faces pressure at a UN nuclear watchdog governors meeting starting today to address Western intelligence alleging it conducted covert studies into how to make nuclear weapons.US negotiator leaves N Korea * BEIJING – The top US negotiator on North Korea was due to leave China yesterday without meeting his North Korean counterpart, who he said was “not ready” for talks aimed at pushing forward a stalled nuclear disarmament plan.