Afghanistan's Karzai asks Taliban to lay down arms

AFGHANISTAN

Karzai asks Taliban to lay down arms

Afghanistan's president appealed to Taliban fighters Sunday to lay down their weapons and accept Afghan laws, as the government and its international allies push a program to entice militants away from the insurgency.

President Hamid Karzai spoke three days after he and Western backers agreed at a conference in London to create a more comprehensive program to bring Taliban insurgents over to the government's side. Karzai stressed that he plans to reconcile with Taliban leaders as much as they are willing, but he made it clear that his offer of reconciliation did not extend to anyone in al-Qaeda, saying there was no room in Afghanistan for terrorists.

"We are trying our best to reach as high as possible to bring peace and security," Karzai said in his first news conference since returning from London.

-- Associated Press

YEMEN

Rebels' offer of cease-fire rejected

Yemen rejected a cease-fire offer from Shiite rebels Sunday and said fighting was continuing, as neighboring Saudi Arabia accused the insurgents of mounting sniper attacks inside its territory.

The State Department's counterterrorism chief was visiting Yemen on Sunday, state media reported, a week after Britain hosted a conference on how to stabilize the Arab world's poorest country.

Yemeni soldiers clashed with rebels in the northern provinces of Malahidh and Saada, killing 20, including a leader responsible for training, state media reported on Sunday.

-- Reuters