Bali climate summit reaches agreement
BALI, Indonesia, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The United States reluctantly has agreed to join a global effort to negotiate a new climate change treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"We will go forward and join consensus," Paula Dobriansky, the head of the U.S. delegation said Saturday.
The United States, in a dramatic reversal, agreed to give poorer countries financial aid and clean technology after the U.S. delegation was booed in Bali at the two-week climate change summit, Britain's Telegraph reported Saturday.
The U.S. delegation did succeed, however, in getting the summit to scrap specific targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for itself and other industrial nations. The road map for the proposed treaty now calls for industrial nations to recognize "deep cuts in global emissions" will be needed by 2020, the Telegraph reported.
A new climate treaty, to be negotiated by the end of 2009 and enforced in 2012, would replace the Kyoto Protocol rejected by the United States six years ago.
Musharraf lifts emergency in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Saturday ordered an end to the emergency decree he issued Nov. 3 and the restoration of the Constitution, reports said.
Musharraf's order restored fundamental civil rights, GEO TV reported. The emergency rule had plunged the country into political turmoil, brought Musharraf much international criticism and condemnation, and raised serious concerns about the country's stability and its nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Islamic radicals.
"The emergency is lifted. President Musharraf has signed the order repealing the state of emergency," GEO TV reported government spokesman Anwar Mahmood as saying.
The report said the country's Constitution was restored with some last-minute amendments.
Pakistan is set to hold parliamentary elections Jan. 8 but already critics say the polls would be rigged.
Musharraf, who has already been re-elected to a second term, has relinquished his army chief title, which was the focus of a legal battle against him when he imposed his emergency rule six weeks ago.
Seven dead in Pakistan suicide bombing
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A suicide bombing attack Saturday near an army supply center in Pakistan killed seven people including two security officials, GEO TV reported.
The incident occurred in the town of Naushehra, 80 miles northwest of the capital of Islamabad, the report said. There were also several injuries.
GEO TV quoted the military and police as saying the attacker, riding a bicycle, blew himself up at a checkpoint on a busy thoroughfare outside the army supply center.
The death toll was expected to rise.
The incident is the latest in a series of similar attacks targeting Pakistan's security forces and installations. The attacks began in July after the Pakistan army raided a mosque in Islamabad which had been taken over by Islamic radicals.
Five killed in Iraq attacks
BAGHDAD, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. solider died in combat and at least four people were killed by roadside bombs in separate attacks in Iraq.
The soldier died Friday in northern Iraq's Ninewa province, bringing to 3,893 the number of U.S. military personnel killed in the Iraq war. Twelve U.S. soldiers have died so far this month, CNN reported Saturday.
In Baghdad, roadside bombs in two sections of the city killed at least four people and wounded 21 Saturday, CNN said.
One explosion targeted a police convoy and the other targeted members of a group known as as the Awakening Council, CNN reported.
Five killed at Kabul police headquarters
KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Rockets fired at close range killed at least five people Saturday at police headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The attackers apparently launched the two rockets from a small wood cart about 50 yards from the headquarters, CNN reported, adding a truck bomb also may have been used.
Five were killed and at least another five were wounded in the attack.
