An Israeli defense official says Defense Minister Ehud Barak is to hold a second round of talks with U.S. special Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell next week in an effort to resolve differences between the two sides on Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as neither Israel or the U.S. has made a formal announcement. He said the meeting was expected to take place in London on Monday ...

US Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that America's role in Iraq was switching from deep military engagement to one of diplomatic support, ahead of a complete withdrawal from the country in 2011. He told newly sworn-in American citizens, mainly soldiers, that the United States had honoured its June 30 obligation to withdraw troops from Iraq's towns and cities and the focus was now on strengthening political ties. "You have lost comrades, 4,322 fallen angels, over 30,000 wounded -- 17,000 critical, but because of your ...

Two US soldiers and seven Afghan policemen were killed in separate explosions Saturday, highlighting the level of violence faced by Marines pressing one of the biggest assaults in eight years. In another incident, one security guard died and four others were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed vehicle near a private security company's four-vehicle convoy in Gereshk district, Daud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Helmand provincial administration said. Nearly 4,000 Marines and 600 Afghan forces on Thursday launched a massive operation in Taliban strongholds in the ...