http://192.168.2.6/english/1104/20061103VOA.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.

Iraqi officials say a blast in Baghdad's Sadr city neighborhood has killed at least 4 people. Earlier insurgents shot and killed the dean of Baghdad University School of Economics and Administration, as well as his wife and son. Gunmen also kidnapped two sports coaches at J. Other attacks around the capital killed at least 3 police officers.

The US military said it believed an American soldier abducted in Baghdad last week is still being held by his captors. Major General William Coldwill told reporters in Baghdad today there is what he called "an ungoing dialogue aimed at freeing the man".

"At this time, we believe the one to kipnap him currently still have them. We will use all our accets and / to find him."

Northeast of Baghdad in D province, militants killed at least 2 police officers and a civilian.

South Korea's president says his country will maintain friendly relations with North Korea to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula, despite the North's nuclear test last month. Speaking in Seoul today, President Roh Moo-hyun stressed the importance of maintaining working relations with the North to secure South Korea's freedom and stability.

Palestanian medics say Israeli troops have killed at least 4 Palestanians in the northern Gaza Strip on a second day of a major operation against militant groups. VOA's Jim Teeple has more from Jerusalem.

About 50 tanks and armored vehicles backed by helicopter gunships have sealed off the town of B where Israeli troops conducted house-to-house searches for weapons, home-made rocket launchers and Palestanian militants. A number of clashes were reported with small groups of militants attacking Israeli troops. Palestanian militants also fired several Kasam rockets into Israel. Israeli troops say their operations in B, a town of about 50,000 people just south of Israel's Gaza border is designed to stop the rocket attacks. Israeli officials say Palestanian militants have fired 800 of the home-made Kasam rockets at Israel since the begining of the year with 300 been fired from B. Israeli newspapers say the operation in B is expected to last several more days. A wider offensive in Gaza is not expected because that would complicate efforts to free an Israeli soldier being held by Palestanian militants. Jim Teeple VOA news, Jerusalem.

Iranian state television says the country's revolutionary guards have testfired more than a score of missles in the first hours of ten-day military exercises. The commandor of the revolutionary guards says the military maneuvers are aimed at demonstrating Iran's ability to defend itself against potential attacks. He says the exercises are not a threat to neighboring countries.

Peace talks in Kharturm between Somalia's transitional government and Islamists who control much of the country have collapsed. It raises fears of impending war as we hear Noel King in Kharturm.

The Somalia government and Islamists did not meet face-to-face during their three days in Sudan. The Islamist delegation refused to meet with government rivals until Ethiopean troops pulled out of Somalia. Ethiopea's presence in embattled nations is hotly contested issue. Islamists accuse neighboring Ethiopea of sending troops into Somalia to bolster the struggling government army. The Somalia government admits a few Ethiopean soldiers have entered the nation but characterizes them as military trainers rather than fighters. The two sides have also squabbled over the questions of who should co-chair the meeting. The Arab League in Kenya were set to co-chair, but the Somali government accused the Arab League of favoring the Islamists. The Islamic court in turn suggested that Kenya supports the presence of foreign troops in Somalia. Diplomats of the talks expressed frustration during the three-day delay. Some suggested that war is Somalia appears eminent. Noel King VOA news, Kharturm.

Sri Lanka's military says air force jets have bombed a Tamil rebel stronghold of K, killing at least 5 people. Today's raid was the second in many days after failed peace talks in Geneva between the rebels and the Sri Lankan government.

A new national poll in the / majority of voters in the United States planned to support Democrats in next week's elections, mostly because of the anger over the US-led war in Iraq. The New York Times, CBS news's poll released today shows 52 percent of registered voters polls said they would vote for Democrats while 33 percent say they would vote for Republicans.

I'm David Deforest, VOA news. More news on the internet at voanews.com.