34 hurt at protest over Kosovo policy

PODGORICA - Police fired tear gas yesterday at thousands of angry pro-Serb Montenegrins who pelted state buildings with rocks and flares to protest their government's recognition of Kosovo's independence. At least 34 were injured. The protesters chanted "Kosovo is Serbia!" to condemn the government's decision last week. Eleven protesters and 23 police officers were injured during the running clashes in downtown Podgorica, hospital officials said. (AP)

BEIRUT - Lebanese security forces have rounded up a group of Islamic militants believed to be responsible for a pair of bomb attacks targeting soldiers in the country's northern port city of Tripoli, authorities said yesterday. Security officials did not discuss any details about the circumstances of the arrests, the number of suspects detained, or the name of the group to which they belonged. One official said the militant cell appeared to be linked to Fatah al Islam, a group inspired by Al Qaeda. (Los Angeles Times)

EU nations were divided yesterday over whether to resume talks on a political and economic pact with Russia that were frozen in protest over its war with Georgia. Germany and Italy led the campaign to resume discussions on trade, energy, and political ties after Moscow withdrew its forces from parts of Georgia according to the terms of an EU-brokered cease-fire. But some EU foreign ministers, led by Britain's David Miliband, said they wanted to see progress in talks on the future of the disputed Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia before pressing ahead. (AP)