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