Vice President Dick Cheney says a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq would be dangerous for the United States and for the entire Middle East. His comments came in Washington Monday in a speech to a gathering sponsored by an influential lobbying group. VOA's Stephanie Ho has more on the story.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called for international support to help cut off networks aiding extremists in his war-torn country.

Violence and refugees strung along the border of Chad, Central African Republic and Sudan continue to worry international leaders. The U.N. special representative for West Africa is hopeful about a renewed peace agreement among the three countries' leaders.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Iran today, his country's closest regional ally.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara during a regional tour to raise support for a revived Middle East peace process.

At least 35 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters protesting against the results of governorship polls in Congo's western-most province. The violence appeared to be the worst since President Joseph Kabila won last year's presidential election.

Chadian armed forces clashed with rebels Thursday in the eastern border town of Adre. From VOA's regional bureau in Dakar, Jordan Davis reports both sides say fighting was intense.

Police and gunmen in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia exchanged gunfire today in the border village of Ergneti.