http://192.168.2.6/music/20061008/2006VOA1006.mp3

It's 15:00 Universal Time, and here is the news from the Voice of America.
I'm David Deforest from the VOA news center in Washington.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Iraq on a previously unannounced visit today and is expected to hold talks with Iraqi and US officials. Rice has been on a tour of the Middle East. Earlier today, the US military said it is highly unlikely that the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was among several militants killed in a recent raid in al al-Anbar province.

Secretary Rice gained agreement from Israel earlier to lift some restrictions on the Palestinians after talks with top officials from both sides. Rice did not make any public comments as she left Israel today after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Israel agreed to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip at regular intervals over the next month.

NATO has assumed command of 12,000 US troops in eastern Afghanistan, completing the alliance's hold on security throughout the country. NATO now commands international forces across the country and its capital Kabul in the organization's largest ever operation. The ceremony marking the transfer of command was held in Kabul today and was attended by US and NATO commanders as well as Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting shortly to discuss a new letter from Sudan, rejecting the proposed UN peacekeeping force for Darfur. The United States demanded the meeting after seeing the letter, in it Sudan says any offer to send peacekeeping troops to Darfur will be considered a hostile act and a prelude to an invasion. Earlier, Sudan agreed to accept UN logistical support for the current African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur as we hear from N.K in Khartoum.

Sudan has agreed to accept the UN support package, which is said to include about 100 UN military advisors and help with communications, transportation and staffing in the embattled Darfur region. Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman A.S told VOA that the move is a compromise aimed at keeping the AU in Darfur. The African Union reported this week that violent clashes between rebel groups in Darfur have put tens of thousands of civilians at risk. Sudan has continued to refuse a full UN transfer, likening the world body to colonizers. The African Union mission voted last month to remain in Darfur until the end of December in order to prevent a security vacuum. But the AU stressed it would be financial and logistical support. N.K for VOA news, Khartoum.

Russia's foreign minister says his country still opposes sanctions against Iran and is calling for more diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Sergei Lavrov spoke to reporters today in Warsaw where he is meeting with Polish officials. He said world powers should exhaust all diplomatic options before imposing sanctions on Iran. Representatives of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany are expected to attend a meeting in London Friday to discuss the issue.

Japan and the United States are stepping up their efforts to dissuade North Korea from carrying out a nuclear test. Japan's cabinet secretary said today the UN Security Council is working on sending a strong message to the North.

India is struggling to cope with outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases that have killed more than 100 people and infected thousands of others in recent weeks. A.P reports from New Delhi.

Overburdened hospitals and clinics in several cities in the north of India are scrambling to treat thousands of patients admitted in recent days with symptoms of high fever and severe body aches. Most of them have been stricken with the mosquito-borne disease, dengue fever, which can be fatal. The disease usually surfaces after the annual monsoon season ends in September and leaves behind pools of stagnant water that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. But the increasing cases this year in such places as the capital New Delhi has raised concerns. India's Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Thursday convened a meeting of health officials from northern states affected by the disease. He is asking people not to panic, saying hospitals are really equipped to treat dengue fever. He says the disease has claimed 38 victims so far, 15 of them in Delhi. The health minister has assured people that the federal government and state governments are stepping up efforts to control the spread of the diseases. A.P for VOA news, New Delhi.

In Washington, I'm David Deforest, VOA news, more news on the Internet at voanews.com.