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The US military in Iraq says 5 American troops have been killed in western Anbar province raising the death toll among US forces to 96 this month. A US military spokesman in Baghdad says the most recent deaths occurred as coalition forces continued an offensive aimed at returning the western Anbar city of Ramadi to Iraqi control. Spokesman General William Caldwell says that since the end of Ramadan there has been a slight decrease in overall violence, but it is too early to determine if it's a trend. Also Thursday, Iraqi police say gunmen in Bakuba killed at least 5 policemen and wounded 10 others.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says a European-drafted UN resolution on Iran is not entirely in accord with the position taken by the world's six major powers. The Russian news agency interfax quotes Lavrov as saying the objective of the six powers should be to prevent Iran from gaining access to sensitive nuclear technologies. He says it is important for the group to maintain contact with Iran. Lavrov says the draft resolution to be discussed today at the United Nations fails to meet the goals agreed by the six nations.

South Korea has taken its first steps to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea for its recent nuclear test including the banning of key North Korean officials from the country. VOA's H.B reports from our Asian new center in Hong Kong.

South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok announcing the sanctions Thursday said the travel ban covers North Korean officials linked to the country's nuclear programs. Lee said South Korea is also increasing inspections of North Korean ships, suspected of carrying weapons and other banned materials. Just a day earlier, Pyongyang has threatened / retaliation of Seoul complied with a UN resolution, calling for the North to be punished for its October 9th nuclear test. Political analysts say South Korea has been cautious in its response to North nuclear test because of its long-standing policy of engagement with the North. On Wednesday, however, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Seoul's participation is crucial to the successful implementation of the UN resolution. H.B, VOA news, Hong Kong.

Local officials in Afghanistan say NATO operations killed at least 60 civilians in the southern part of the country earlier this week. The deputy director of Kandahar province's council and the chief of Panjawai district said the civilians were killed in a series of operations including air strikes in the province of Kandahar on Tuesday.

French President Jacques Chirac and Chinese President Hu Jintao have signed an agreement for China to buy more Airbus passenger aircraft. The visiting French President was welcomed to a lavish ceremony in Beijing as we hear from Louis F. in the Chinese capital.

In his welcoming remarks, President Hu Jintao spoke of the importance of cooperating in the face of threats such as that posed by North Korea when it tested a nuclear device this month.

"We will face the global challenge and we will together work to build a prosperous and harmonious world."

While security has been a major topic on the French President's agenda, expanding business has also taken a prominent role. Accompanying Mr Chirac on this visit are about 30 French business executives, who came ready to sign deals with the Chinese, all part of France's bid to boost its share of the China market. The head of the Toulouse-based European airplane manufacturing consortion Airbus, on Thursday, announced China had signed an order to buy 150 of Airbus's A320 aircraft. The head of another French company engineering from Austemb announced the sale to China of 500 local motors at a cost of 1.28 billion dollars. Louis F., VOA news, Beijing.

President Bush has signed a bill authorizing 1,100-kilometer fence to be built along the southern US border as guard against illegal immigration and illegal drug trafficking. Mr Bush called the bill an important step toward immigration reform.

"Ours is a nation of immigrants. We are also a nation of law. Unfortunately, United States has not been a complete control of its border for decades. And therefore, illegal immigration has been on the rise."

The President said the measure he signed today known as the secure fence act of 2006 would allow for barriers, checkpoints and extra lighting on border areas with Mexico.