Indonesia's foreign minister arrived in Myanmar's capital on

Indonesia's foreign minister arrived in Myanmar's capital on
Thursday on an unannounced visit, the first by a senior Southeast
Asian official since the nation's moderate prime minister was
forced out of office by the ruling junta last month. The reason
for Hassan Wirayuda's visit was not announced, but an official in
Yangon, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Hassan was
seeking a meeting with the head of Myanmar's ruling junta, Senior
Gen. Than Shwe. The trip comes three weeks after Myanmar Prime
Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt was removed from office and replaced by
another senior army officer, Lt. Gen. Soe Win. --AP

India announces troop
reduction in Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced on Thursday a
troop reduction in disputed Kashmir this winter, a move welcomed
by regional rival Pakistan as a boost to peace efforts.
The announcement, which did not give the number of troops being
withdrawn, comes days before Singh is due to make his first visit
to the insurgency-hit Himalayan state since becoming prime
minister in May. "During the past several months, the Indian army
and other security forces deployed in the state of Kashmir have
achieved success in bringing about an improvement in the security
situation in the state," said a statement issued by the prime
minister's office. "In recognition of the improvement in the
situation in the state, the government has decided to reduce the
deployment of troops this winter." --AFP

China mine blast
kills 27 people

Twenty-seven people died in a gas explosion at a coal mine in
central China on Thursday, state media said. The blast happened
at the Xinsheng Coal Mine in Pingdingshan, a city in central
China's Henan province, Xinhua news agency reported. Rescuers
were trying to determine the exact number of miners who were
underground at the time of the incident, the report said.
Fatalities are an almost daily occurrence in China's often
dangerous coal mines, many of which are criticized for poor
safety standards. --AFP