It's 15:00 Universal Time and here is the news from the Voice of America.

I am David Deforest from the VOA news center in Washington.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana says there has been some progress but no agreement reached in his latest talks with Iranian officials on that nation's nuclear program. Solana made the remark in Berlin today after 2 days of discussions with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani. The EU diplomats said the 2 sides have yet to resolve some issues. Larijani also called the talks constructive and he said some positive conclusions were reached. Either Larijani or Solana provided specifics. In the Iranian city of Karachi, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again rejected international demands to suspend uranium enrichment. He said Iran would not stop enrichment even for one day.

Iraqi security officials say a string of attacks in Baghdad killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens. Bombings and shootings in and around Baghdad targeted civilians, Iraqi soldiers and police. Officials also reported finding more apparent victims of sectarian death squads. Some 40 bodies that all showed signs of torture. Also a poll conducted at the University of Maryland indicates about 3 quarters of Iraqis believe the US military presence in Iraq is provoking more conflict than it is preventing.

President Bush met with Senate Republicans at the US capital Thursday ahead of expected Senate passage of a bill dealing with the treatment and trials of terrorism suspects. Mr. Bush says the measure would give him an important tool in the war on terrorism as we hear from VOA's D.

A day after the House of Representatives approved its version of the legislation, President Bush urged the Senate to do like wise. "Our most important responsibility is to protect the American people from further attack, and we cannot be able to tell the American people we are doing a full job. unless we have the tool that are necessary to do so."

The legislation has established its limit on the techniques used to interrogate terror suspects but denies detainees access to court to challenge their imprisonment. Many Democrats argued the measure negotiated by Senate Republicans in the White House would allow unfair trials and abuse of interrogation techniques. The Senate Wednesday rejected an amendment that would expand detainee's legal rights. Senators are to consider several other amendments before voting on the overall legislation. Republicans hope to campaign on the legislation in the run up to November congressional elections to show their tough stand on terrorism. D., VOA news, Capital Hill.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is in London for talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on issues ranging from terrorism to cooperation in Afghanistan. On his arrival, General Musharraf told reporters the discussions will also cover bilateral issues including trade, counter terrorism and reinforcing intelligence. Earlier, the Pakistani leader told the BBC he would protest Mr Blair in connection with charges that his country's intelligence service known as the ISI indirectly supports terrorism by supporting Islamic extremism. He said the ISI is doing an excellent job. The BBC referred him to a laete paper by a British Ministry Defense think tank.

Pakistan earlier this month signed an agreement with pro-Taliban militants in its north Waziristan region aimed at reducing militant raids in the eastern Afghanistan. But US officials report a sharp rising violence. VOA's Benjamin Sand reports from Islamabad.The deal signed 3 weeks ago was presented as a major breakthrough in Pakistan's efforts to reinforce security along the Pakistan-Afghan border. But US military officials say extremist attacks in eastern Afghanistan have tripled since the peace deal was signed September 5th. K., US military spokesman in Afghanistan says the fighting is particularly strong just across the border from Pakistan's volatile tribal areas of north Waziristan. P. says the violence stands at least in part from stepped up US military operations in the area. US officials are declining to comment on any direct links between the latest attacks and Islamabad's agreement with north Waziristan. Under that agreement, the government promised to withdraw most of its troops from the region, in exchang tribal leaders agreed to expel foreign extremists and help end cross-border raids. Benjamin Sand, VOA news, Islamabad.

And in Washington I am David Deforest, VOA news. More news on the Internet at voanews.com.