Cambodia denies bail to three accused JI members: Cambodia's

Cambodia denies bail to three accused JI members: Cambodia's Appeals Court on Monday denied bail to two Thais and an Egyptian charged with belonging to the regional terror group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and having links with the al-Qaeda network. Cambodian authorities said Esam Mohamid Khird Ali, a 40 year-old Egyptian, and Thai nationals Abdul Azi Haji Chiming, 35, and Muhammad Yalaludin Mading, 41, have been charged with terrorism and belonging to JI. --AFP

Berlusconi sues opposition leader for 15m euros: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi demanded 15 million euros ($17 million) in damages on Monday from Italy's main opposition leader, who accused him of orchestrating a smear campaign against the center-left. Judicial sources said Berlusconi presented the defamation suit against Piero Fassino, head of the Democrats of the Left, following a war of words over a 1997 telecom deal in Serbia that has poisoned relations between the two political blocs. Fassino said last month that Berlusconi was the "puppeteer" behind media claims that he and European Commission President Romano Prodi pocketed millions of euros in kickbacks from the business transaction with Slobodan Milosevic's Yugoslavia. --Reuters

Blair on Iraq rack as inquiry resumes: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his ratings already tattered over Iraq, faces two more tough weeks as the inquiry into the death of weapons expert David Kelly shines a light on what many Britons feel were unworthy reasons for war. Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, his career widely seen as on the line, will be hauled back in front of judge Lord Hutton's investigation, as will Blair's outgoing communications chief, Alastair Campbell. Blair himself, however, will not be called to testify again. --Reuters

Shots fired near British Embassy residential compound: Shots have been fired near the residential compound housing Britain's ambassador to Tehran and Iranian officials are hunting the culprits, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi condemned the shooting, which occurred late Sunday. No one was injured. It was the third time this month bullets have been fired at buildings connected to Britain's diplomatic mission in Tehran. --AP