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I am Kamier English from the VOA news center in Washington.

Iraqi police say insurgents killed at least 10 people in an attack today in Southern Baghdad, at least one of the victims is said to be an employee of the Iraqi Red Cross. Police say gunmen opened fire on a vehicle driving though a Sunni and Shiiet neighbourhood in southwestern Baya district, killing 4 of the 7 people in the vehicle. Authority say a roadside bomb in southern part of the district exploded near a group of street cleaners, killing one person and wounding 8 others. And police said in nearby Serdia unidentified gunmen killed 5 people and wounded 1 when the attackers opened fire on the vehicle. Also, the US military says coalition forces captured 17 suspected terrorists during a series of overnight raids targeting Al Quaed in Iraq. On Friday, the US military said coalition forces in Iraq detained 4 suspected members of the terrorist cell that use sophisticated weaponry from Iran.

The Talian says it has released one of two French aid workers that has been holding captivity in Afghanistan for the last three weeks. Taliban Spokesman says the French woman identified Aline Esline was free today in Southern Kandahar Province. He said the other French hostage Aroge and three Afghan colleagues remain captive. Afghan and French officials have not confirmed the release.

Saudi Arabia has rounded up 132 suspected militants, the kingdom says for plotting terrorist attacks against oil instillation and military bases. The Saudi adds that the rest of major terrorist operations including the use of aircraft to carry out the attacks. The suspects are set of 9 to 7 terrorist cells. Officials also said large number of weapons and more than 5 million dollars in cash was seized in the operation.

George Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Aby Friday. The presendential retreat outside Washington was the site of their meeting. VOA correspondent Staffny Holl has the story.

The two leaders met at the President's Camp David retreat outside Washington on Friday after a dinner Thuresday at the White House. The talks were wide-ranging covering issues like the steadfastness of US-Japan Alliance, cooperation on International Issues, nuclear energy and trade. At a joint news conference, the two leaders showed their confidence with each other by repeatedly using each other's first names, Geoge and Shinzo. President Bush said North Korea dominated much of the discussion. "We expected North Korea to meet all its commitments under the Feburary 13th agreement and we will continue working closely with our partners." Prime Minister Aby called on North Koreans to in his words keep their promise. On other issues, the two leaders showed solidarity on international sanctions against Iran and ongoing reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The two leaders talked about working together to combat climate change and promote alternative energe resources such as nuclear energy and bio-dissel fuels. After the US visit, the Japanese leader travels to the Middle East. Staffny Holl, VOA news, Washington.

The UN Security Council has lifted the embargo on Liberia's dimond exports. Peter Haline reports.

The US-sponsored resolution unanimously approved Friday applauds Liberia's woke in setting up controls on its diamonds. The measure says Liberia has made enough progress to meet the requirements of the Kinbely Process, which calls on member governments to certify the X origin of rough diamonds. The Council ordered the so-called "block diamond" embargo in 2001 at a time when the government of then President Charles Taylor was accused to using the revenue from Liberia's diamond sale to fuel civil wars. Taylor currently is awaiting trial before a special Sirre Leon war crime tribunal at the Hague. After Friday's Security Council vote, Council president, the British UN Ambassador Amile Johns Perry called lifting the sanctions is a refection of the international confidence in the government of current Liberian President Alon Johnson Serliff. Peter Haline, VOA news, the United Nations.

These are the top stories of this hour in Washington, I'm Kamier English, VOA news.