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TOP STORIES
Syria's Assad makes rare appearance in Damascus mosque
BEIRUT - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad performs Eid
prayers in Damascus mosque on Sunday, state TV shows, in his
first appearance in public since July bombing in Syrian capital
that killed four of his top security officials (SYRIA-CRISIS/
(WRAPUP 3), expect by 1200, pix, tv, by Tom Perry, 700 words)
- SYRIA-CRISIS/BRAHIMI (INTERVIEW), moved, by Mirna Sleiman,
900 words
- SYRIA-CRISIS/TURKEY, moved, by Daren Butler, 450 words)
Ecuador rallies Latin America in Assange battle with UK
Assange to speak from Ecuador embassy in diplomatic standoff
LONDON - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange set to weigh into
diplomatic standoff between Britain and Ecuador on Sunday but
may remain holed up within refuge at Ecuadorean embassy as
workmen prepare balcony for his statement (WIKILEAKS-ASSANGE,
moved, pix, tv, by Alessandra Prentice, 500 words)
- WIKILEAKS-ASSANGE/ECUADOR, (UPDATE 1), moved, pix, tv, by
Eduardo Garcia, 650 words
- WIKILEAKS-ASSANGE/, moved, by Estelle Shirbon and
Alessandra Prentice, 800 words
Car bombs kill two in Libyan capital
TRIPOLI, Aug 19 - At least two people killed when three car
bombs explode near interior ministry and security buildings in
Libyan capital, the first lethal attack of its kind since
Muammar Gaddafi's fall last year, security sources say
(LIBYA-BLASTS/ (UPDATE 3), moved, pix, tv, by Taha Zargoun, 550
words)
ASIA
Japan-China islands disputes deepen with landings
EAST CHINA SEA - Several Japanese nationalists land on rocky
island in East China Sea that is at heart of territorial row
with Beijing, sparking protests in several Chinese cities and a
diplomatic rebuke from Beijing (JAPAN-CHINA/ (UPDATE 3), moved,
pix, tv, by Chris Meyers, 600 words)
MIDDLE EAST
Bomb kills Iraqi Sunni cleric who urged end to insurgency
BAGHDAD - A prominent Iraqi cleric and former fighter who
urged Sunni Islamist armed groups to end their insurgency is
killed along with three of his bodyguards in car bomb attack on
his convoy in Baghdad, authorities say (IRAQ-VIOLENCE/CLERIC,
moving shortly, 350 words)
At least 14 killed in Yemen attack on intelligence HQ
ADEN - Suspected al Qaeda-linked militants kill at least 14
Yemeni soldiers and security guards in car bomb and grenade
attack on intelligence service headquarters in southern port
city of Aden (YEMEN-ATTACK/ (UPDATE 4), moved, by Mohammed
Mukhashaf, 600 words)
- YEMEN SECESSIONISTS/RELEASE, moved, 250 words
Egyptian president to make rare visit to Iran
CAIRO - Islamist Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi will visit
Iran for Non-Aligned Movement meetings on Aug. 30, state news
agency says, the first such visit by Egyptian head of state to
Tehran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution (EGYPT-IRAN, moved, 350
words)
EUROPE
MOSCOW - Suicide bomb attack kills seven police officers
attending funeral of colleague in Ingushetia in Russia's
volatile North Caucasus region, hours after masked gunmen fire
on mosque in Dagestan, wounding eight people (RUSSIA-CAUCASUS,
moved, tv, 350 words)
Madonna adds her voice to critics of Pussy Riot verdict
LOS ANGELES - Madonna, who had already voiced support for
Russian punk band Pussy Riot, joins chorus of celebrities in
condemning jail sentence handed down in Moscow to three women
from the group over protest against President Vladimir Putin
(RUSSIA-PUSSYRIOT/REACTION, moved, 450 words)
AFRICA
Sudan plane crash kills up to 31, including minister
KHARTOUM - Up to 31 people including at least one Sudanese
minister killed when plane taking them to Islamic festival
crashes in country's south, an official and state media say
(SUDAN-CRASH (UPDATE 1), moved, 250 words)
Mine violence hits at nexus of S. Africa political power
MARIKANA, South Africa - The bloody protest by South African
miners that ended in hail of police gunfire and 34 deaths this
week could also wound ruling ANC and main labour ally, laying
bare workers' anger over enduring inequalities in Africa's
biggest economy (SAFRICA-LONMIN/POLITICS, moved, pix, tv, by Jon
Herskovitz, 900 words)
UNITED STATES
Ryan puts personal spin on U.S. Medicare debate
THE VILLAGES, Florida - Republican vice presidential
candidate Paul Ryan puts personal spin on debate over Medicare,
bringing his 78-year-old mother on stage at speech to seniors in
Florida where he vows to safeguard health care program for the
elderly (USA-CAMPAIGN/RYAN (UPDATE 3), moved, pix, by Alina
Selyukh, 600 words)