Serbian police stop reservists

KURSUMLIJA – Serbian police have stopped hundreds of ex-army reservists from going to the border with Kosovo.

Former Serb fighters from the Kosovo war planned to remove a border sign saying “Republic of Kosovo” at the Merdare border crossing. Pope urges end to ME violence VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict yesterday called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate for peace, condemning a surge of violence in the region as part of a “spiral of destruction”.Myanmar junta rejects UN monitors YANGON – Myanmar’s military government has rejected a United Nations offer of observers for May’s constitutional referendum and elections in 2010, redoubling concerns about the freedom and fairness of both polls.Ned Kelly’s grave found SYDNEY – Australian archaeologists believe they have found the grave of the country’s legendary outlaw, Ned Kelly, on the site of an abandoned prison.Kelly, immortalised for using home-made armour in a final shoot-out with police, became a folk hero of Australia’s colonial past .Spain goes to the polls MADRID – Voting got under way in Spain’s general election yesterday, a ballot expected to return the ruling Socialists to power, though again short of an absolute majority after a tough campaign focused on a flagging economy.Electoral test for Sarkozy PARIS – French President Nicolas Sarkozy faced his first electoral test since coming to power last May when voters cast ballots yesterday in local elections expected to deal a blow to his centre-right UMP party.Medvedev no easy ride NOVO OGARYEVO – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West against expecting an easier ride under his successor Dmitry Medvedev.Dalai Lama backs Chinese Olympics DHARAMSHALA, India – The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, said he backed China’s right to host the Olympics after Beijing reportedly charged he was trying to sabotage the summer Games.Pope urges end to ME violence VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict yesterday called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate for peace, condemning a surge of violence in the region as part of a “spiral of destruction”. Myanmar junta rejects UN monitors YANGON – Myanmar’s military government has rejected a United Nations offer of observers for May’s constitutional referendum and elections in 2010, redoubling concerns about the freedom and fairness of both polls.Ned Kelly’s grave found SYDNEY – Australian archaeologists believe they have found the grave of the country’s legendary outlaw, Ned Kelly, on the site of an abandoned prison.Kelly, immortalised for using home-made armour in a final shoot-out with police, became a folk hero of Australia’s colonial past .Spain goes to the polls MADRID – Voting got under way in Spain’s general election yesterday, a ballot expected to return the ruling Socialists to power, though again short of an absolute majority after a tough campaign focused on a flagging economy.Electoral test for Sarkozy PARIS – French President Nicolas Sarkozy faced his first electoral test since coming to power last May when voters cast ballots yesterday in local elections expected to deal a blow to his centre-right UMP party.Medvedev no easy ride NOVO OGARYEVO – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West against expecting an easier ride under his successor Dmitry Medvedev.Dalai Lama backs Chinese Olympics DHARAMSHALA, India – The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, said he backed China’s right to host the Olympics after Beijing reportedly charged he was trying to sabotage the summer Games.