World -- December 31, 2005

• At least five killed in bombs in Baghdad
• Annan urges Nepal government, leftist rebels to reach truce
• Al-Qaida threatens to kill five hostages
• Bush signs bill to extend Patriot Act
• Canadian FM slightly injured in robbery

• DPRK: US carries out over 180 aerial espionage ops in December
• Fighting al Qaida becomes largest CIA covert program since Cold War: report
• French court greenlight departure of warship Clemenceau for India
• Kenyan president reassures investors of business-encouraging policies
• Moscow rejects Israeli allegation of Hezbollah using Russian missiles

• Russia raps US statement on freedom
• Sudan decides to close embassy in Iraq after abductors' threats
• Syria's Khaddam says Assad threatened Hariri before his assassination
• Turkish PM says accession talks with EU to start in March
• Three kidnapped Britons freed in Gaza

• UN shocked over violence in Egypt
• UN chief hails completion of Indonesian troops withdrawal from Aceh
• US says inspectors find Iraq's prison problems
• US expresses sorrow over killing of Sudanese refugees