U.S. aid will focus on training Philippine troops:U.S. military

U.S. aid will focus on training Philippine troops:U.S. military
aid to the Philippines in coming months will focus less on
supporting direct anti-terrorism missions and more on training
"so the Americans don't have to be there forever," Philippine
Defense Secretary Gen. Angelo Reyes said on Tuesday. He also said
his government was holding "backroom negotiations" with Indonesia
over the fate of several Indonesian members of an al-Qaeda-linked
Muslim separatist group jailed in the Philippines on terrorism
charges. --AP

Jordanian editors arrested over "offensive" pictures:The
Jordanian authorities arrested on Wednesday the chairman and
editor of two weekly newspapers for publishing damaging material
against Qatar, including a photo-montage of its leaders as belly
dancers. Fakher Abu Anzeh, chairman of Al-Shahed newspaper, and
Maamun al-Russan, editor of the Al-Jazira weekly, were arrested
for a 15 days and will be referred to the state security court.
--AFP.

Rebels, Sri Lankan govt set date for negotiations: Sri Lankan and
Tamil Tiger rebel negotiators agreed on Wednesday to start formal
talks in September in Bangkok, Thailand, aimed at ending a 19-
year insurgency, a Norwegian mediator said. Sri Lankan Economic
Affairs Minister Milinda Moragoda and Anton Balasingham, chief
negotiator for the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,
said the talks would be held Sept. 12-17. They agreed to the date
during a meeting in the Norwegian capital. --AP

India flays Musharraf for address on Kashmir:India on Wednesday
launched a verbal barrage at Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
for his comments on Kashmir and accused Islamabad of wanting to
disrupt the upcoming provincial elections in the disputed
Himalayan territory. The hard-hitting Indian statement came hours
after Musharraf vowed that Pakistan would not compromise on the
right of Kashmiris to self-rule and rubbished the polls, to be
held in September and October, as a bid to legitimize India's
"illegal occupation". --AFP

Iraqi opposition says it wounded Saddam's son:The Iraqi National
Congress opposition group said on Wednesday its operatives had
shot and wounded the youngest son of President Saddam Hussein,
Qusay, during an assassination attempt two weeks ago. Qusay heads
the Republican Guards, Iraq's best trained and equipped army unit
entrusted with the protection of the president. He has been
promoted to the regional command of the Baath party and touted as
a possible successor to Saddam. --Reuters