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It's 10:00 Universal Time and here is the news from the Voice of America.

I'm Bill Thompson from the VOA News Center in Washington.

President Bush and leaders of the US Congress will meet later today to work out a new bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The president yesterday kept his promised veto of spending bill that had been passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress because it included a timetable for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. VOA White House correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

President Bush says opposition demands to pull US troops out of Iraq by October would embolden the enemy. In a nationwide address moments after vetoing the spending bill, the president called it a prescription for chaos and confusion. "Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure. And that will be irresponsible." Because the measure passed the House and Senate by closed votes, it's highly unlikely opposition Democrats can find a 2/3 majority to overright this veto. Still, Democratic leader seemed doomed the legislation of the White House Tuesday to show their opposition to what sent to Majority Leader Harry Reid says are US troops mild in the middle of an open and civil war. "If the president thinks by vetoing this bill establish from working to change the direction of the war on Iraq. He is mistaking." The president meets Wednesday with the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate to talk about how to move forward on new legislation to pay for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Scott Stearns, VOA News, at the White House.

A new brigade of 3,700 American troops has arrived in Baghdad, joining US combat units already deployed in the capital to support the security crackdown launched in February. A US military statement says the new brigade will help Iraqi security forces clear, control and reattain key areas of Baghdad in order to reduce violence. Meanwhile, US and Iraqi officials say they are still trying to confirm reports that Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri was killed in fighting yesterday north of Baghdad.

Turkey's roling AK Party has urged parliament to declare early general elections, opening the way to resolve the standoff with secularists over the selection of a new president. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has formally asked lawmakers to announce elections to be held on June 24, nearly 5 months ahead of shedule. The ruling party's move comes after Turkey's Constitutional Court / the first round the voting in parliament to elect a new president ruling that the court was not present at the time of last week's vote. Mr. Erdogan described that court decision as a bullet aimed at democracy.

A leader of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Kadima Party is urging him to resign in the wake of a highly-critical report on the government's handling of last year's war against Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon. The head of the Kadima Parliamentary faction told Israeli raido that the prime minister must step down to allow the party to form a new governing coalition. Robert Burger has more from VOA's Jerusalem Bureau.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is facing mounting pressure to resign after an official / harshly criticized his handling of the Lebanon War. The 5-member commission accused Mr. Olmert of severe failure in judgement responsibility and caution. The prime minister suffered a further blow when Cabinet minister Eitan Cabel quit. "Ehud Olmert must resign." Cabel said. "I can not sit in a government headed by Ehud Olmert." Cabel is a member of the Labor Party, the senior coalition partner in the government. Some members of Mr. Olmert's own Kadima Party are also calling for his resignation, though most are standing behind the prime minister. Mr. Olmert is taking the blame for Israel's failure to deal a knockout blow to some 5,000 Hezbollah guerillas during a 34-day air and ground assault on Lebanon. Robert Burger, for VOA News, Jerusalem.

About 200,000 people held rallies in several US cities yesterday to demand more rights for illegal immigrants. The largest of the rallies was in Chicago where 150,000 gathered. Most of the protests were peaceful, although there was an evening rally in Los Angeles where some protesters threw rocks and bottles at police who then responded by firing rebel bullets to disperse the crowd.

US-led forces and Afghan forces have killed 5 militants during a gunbattle at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan. Three other militants escaped. No coalition or Afghan forces were wounded.

And South Korea's Defense Ministry says North Korea has agreed to hold a military talks to prepare for a proposed cross-border railway test.

I'm Bill Thompson, VOA News. More news on the internet at voanews.com.

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