Image Day - Sri Lanka bus bomb

More than two dozen people have been killed in a bus-blast in the south-east of Sri-Lanka on the same day the government formally withdrew from a ceasefire.

Via BBC

Taleban storm luxury-hotel in Kabul

Taleban militants stormed Kabul's leading luxury-hotel last night, killing seven people in a significant escalation of insurgent tactics against foreign civilians in Afghanistan.

UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said Norway's foreign minister, Støre, was the target of the assault, where the Norwegian embassy was holding a meeting.

A Taleban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility shortly after the attack.

Via Guardian-Unlimited/AFP

Cease-Fire No More

On Thursday, the Sri Lankan government notified the mission of its-decision to pull out of the 2002 Norwegian-brokered truce, saying the agreement had allowed Tamil-rebels to regroup.

The collapse of the truce was accompanied by continued battles near rebel-held territory in Sri Lanka's north. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters Friday that Norwegian monitors will have what he call a redefined role.

Via VOA