OPEC decided in Vienna Wednesday to increase its official

OPEC decided in Vienna Wednesday to increase its official output by one million barrels per day from November 1 in a signal to the markets that it would continue pumping at near full capacity, ministers said. "We have decided to raise the quota by one million barrels per day from Nov. 1," Algerian Oil Minister Chakib Khelil said here at the close of the cartel's ministerial meeting. -- AFP

U.S. rebukes S. Arabia over religious freedom

The United States on Wednesday accused Saudi Arabia of severe violations of religious freedom in a rare official rebuke of a close ally and key oil supplier that potentially could lead to sanctions. "Freedom of religion does not exist in Saudi Arabia," the U.S. State Department said in an annual report on religious freedom around the world that included the kingdom for the first time among a list of eight countries "of particular concern." -- Reuters

Former Niger president dies at 58

Col. Daouda Malam Wanke, a military commander who ruled for eight months after a 1999 coup in this West African nation Niger, died on Wednesday of cardiovascular trouble, family members said. He was 58. Wanke died at his home in Niger's capital, Niamey. Wanke had been in poor health for years, suffering from high blood pressure, his family told The Associated Press. He had recently traveled to Libya, Morocco and Switzerland to seek treatment. -- AP

Sudan rejects draft Darfur resolution

Sudan on Wednesday rejected a U.S.-sponsored Security Council draft resolution to punish it over the conflict in the remote Darfur region, saying it was unfair and lacked balance. The United States has modified its call for UN sanctions against Sudan, but kept up the threat of punitive measures if Khartoum did not act against atrocities committed in Darfur. "This is imbalanced, unfair and we are rejecting it as we rejected the first draft," Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told a Cairo news conference on Wednesday. -- Reuters