e Yugoslavia

Beirut - The United Nations Interim Force in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) Monday denied reports of an Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon.

Beirut/Damascus - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Monday highlighted France’s role in establishing diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria and played down the growing animosity between Israel and Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah movement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of ionizing radiation for fresh spinach and lettuce. The health regulators feel that the technique that has been used for other foods could help control bacteria and other pathogens as well as make the greens last longer and give them better shelf life benefiting retailers [...]

Moscow - Russian lawmakers on Monday unanimously passed a resolution backing the independence of Georgia’s rebel regions, a move sure to deepen a rift with the West over Moscow’s military actions in the former Soviet state.

Berlin - The German government sharply criticized the Russian lawmakers’ decision to recognize the independence of Georgia’s separatist regions.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan/Moscow - Kyrgyz authorities Monday ruled out terrorism as the cause of an air crash in which at least 65 passengers died near the Central Asian state’s capital of Bishkek, saying mechanical failure was the probable cause.

Pristina: Good news for Kosovo Albanians! The good news is that recently announced Barack Obama’s choice of running mate, Joseph Biden is a great friend of Kosovo.

Guatemala City - At least 10 people including five US citizens died in the crash of a private plane Sunday in eastern Guatemala, Guatemalan aviation authorities said.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan/Moscow - At least 65 people are believed dead in the crash of an Itek Air Boeing 737 passenger liner shortly after takeoff from Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, the Kyrgyz authorities said early Monday.