http://192.168.2.6/english/20061216VOA.mp3

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

Rival Palestinian gunmen had clashed in Gaza and West Bank City of Ramallah, a day after an attack against the Palestinian prime minister A. Hospital official say more than 30 people had been injured in the fighting between the ruling group Hamas and rival Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas. The clashes follow accusations from Hamas that gunmen affiliated with Fatah try to assassinate Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Gunfire killed the Prime Minster's bodyguard and wounded at least 20 other people Tuesday near the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. A Hamas spokesman accused the top Fatah official of planning and organizing an attempted assassination of the Prime Minster. Fatah denied involvement. President Abbas expressed regret for the incident. Despite the violence, tens of thousands of Hamas supporters rallied in Gaza City today to mark the Group's 19th anniversary.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has rejected the idea of holding talks with Iran and Syria about reducing violence in Iraq. Rice told the Washington Post Newspaper, she opposes the bipartisan Iraq study group's recommendation to engage the two countries. She said she will not allow Syria to interfere in Lebanon or let Iran attain nuclear weapon as a price for their help in bringing peace to Iraq. The secretary said if the two countries had interests in stabilizing Iraq they will do it anyway. President Bush is to announce his decision on new strategy for Iraq on early January. Syria President Bashar al-Assad said he favors talks with the United States. He told an Italian newspaper that Washington should hold talks with his countries and Iran on stabilizing the Middle East.

A top official with the the Iraqi Red Crescent says dealing with the US forces is the agency's main difficulty in Iraq. The vice president of Iraqi Red Crescent J says American troops in F recently detained volunteers and staff for more than two hours, then burned the cars and building belonging to the agency. A was speaking today in Geneva where he was discussing funding for his agency. He accused US troops of attacking Iraqi Red Crescent offices in Baghdad and said the agency's workers had difficulties passing through US road blocks. He said the vehicles and buildings are clearly marked is belonging to the Iraqi Red Crescent. A acknowledged some problems with the insurgents but said Iraq has generally recognized the group is neutral. The US military has not responded to the comments.

Iranians are voting today in local government elections that are expected to be the first test to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's public approval since he took office 18 months ago. Voters are choosing candidates for city and rural councils that have considerable political crowd. More than 200,000 candidates are running for seats. Islamic clerks are also running for the 86-member assembly experts where two groups of candidates are vining for influence. Conservative supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are opposed by a group backed by former president A. Ahmadinejad defeated A in last year's presidential race. Analysts say the outcome of the elections will be an important thermometer of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's popularity.

Somalia Islamic Movement is rejecting an accusation that it is controlled by Al-Qaida. Speaking to reporters in Mogadishu today, a spokesman for the Islamic Course Union said the allegation from US diplomatic agenda F is baseless. And it is meant to hamper the Islamic's progress. F, the top US envoy to Africa, said Thursday that the Islamic Cour is now controlled by East African Al-Qaida members. She said the top leaders of the Court are extremists and terrorists. United States has repeatedly expressed concern about alleged links between the Islamic and terrorist groups as Islamic militias gained control over more of Somalia.

Nigerian officials say gunmen are holding a number of workers hostage following an attack on the oil installation in the country's oil rich Nigeria Delta. Local officials today said the men struck a subcity area owned by Royal Shell in the southern B state late Thursday.