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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Human rights activists sent a letter to President George W. Bush on Wednesday urging him to raise the cases of 23 political prisoners when he attends the Beijing Olympics next month.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States hopes to conduct its first ever humanitarian disaster relief drills with the Chinese military in late 2009 or 2010, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, asserting executive privilege, has rejected Congress' request for documents on FBI interviews with Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney from a probe to find who leaked the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers defied a White House veto threat on Wednesday and voted to bar CIA contractors from interrogating suspected terrorists, in the latest clash over detainee treatment in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats and the Bush administration were scrambling on Wednesday to shore up support for a major housing market rescue bill, as Republican backing for it faltered on doubts about adding on a plan to bolster Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

UMUAHIA, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least 17 people died at a prayer meeting in rural Nigeria after apparently breathing noxious fumes from their power generator while asleep, police and witnesses said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it was sending an envoy to join nuclear talks with Iran to signal to Tehran and others that Washington wanted a diplomatic solution to the impasse.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Debit cards linked to retirement savings accounts would be banned under a bill set to be introduced in the U.S. Senate.

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's Constitutional Court rapporteur has recommended that the ruling AK Party not be closed for Islamist activities, broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia misused the symbol of the Red Cross in this month's military rescue of politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other rebel-held hostages, it said on Wednesday, admitting a possible violation of the rules of war.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A U.N.-African Union peacekeeper was shot and killed in Sudan's western Darfur region, a week after militiamen killed seven peacekeepers, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it had decided to send an envoy to join nuclear talks with Iran as a signal to Tehran and others that Washington wanted to find a diplomatic solution to the impasse.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he wanted a peaceful end to political turmoil in Zimbabwe and was examining more U.S. sanctions after a U.N. resolution was blocked by Russia and China.

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain praised Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday in a speech to black leaders and outlined what he called honest differences with Obama over taxes, spending and education.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Sudan's president, accused of masterminding genocide in Darfur, might escape war crimes charges if he brings to justice two men suspected of mass killings, Western envoys said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a big win for the U.S. futures industry, new Senate legislation unveiled on Wednesday would not impose higher margins on oil traders but would still aim to rein in excessive speculation in energy markets.

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Trade Organisation's top court upheld on Wednesday the bulk of previous rulings against the United States in two cases brought by India and Thailand over shrimp imports.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress should be able to approve legislation aimed at shoring up mortgage lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by next week and has an existing housing bill as a vehicle, the White House said on Wednesday.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a rare public appearance, welcomed five Lebanese freed from captivity in Israel on Wednesday after his guerrilla group returned the bodies of two captured Israeli soldiers.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush is concerned about the impact of high prices on Americans, the White House said on Wednesday after the government reported the biggest jump in consumer prices since September 2005.