EFTA00701043.txt

"Following a recent visit by US Secretary of Defense Panetta, President Karzai told the press"

"Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah swore in a new 16-member cabinet... including Prime Minister Jaber AI-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah"

"Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal visited the Gaza Strip"

"From: Office of Terje Rod-Larsen... INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE"

"pursuit of talks initiated by the ECOWAS mediator Blaise Compaor4 with the Tuareg rebels of MNLA"

"pursuit of talks initiated by the ECOWAS mediator Blaise Compaor4 with... the Islamist Ansar Dine"

"On December 9th negotiations finally started in Kampala between the M23 rebel group and the government of the DRC"

"Minister of Interior Ashur Shwail... took his oath in front the Libyan General National Congress"

"Integrity Commission's finding that he had been closely associated with the Qaddafi government"