US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is too soon to set a timeline for shifting security duties from NATO-led troops to Afghan forces, as proposed by Britain.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is too soon to set a timeline for shifting security duties from NATO-led troops to Afghan forces, as proposed by Britain.

BUTLERVILLE, Indiana (Reuters) - They arrive at the meeting by U.S. military helicopter, politely accept a cup of tea and haggle over a U.S.-funded water project gone awry.

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in the heart of Afghanistan's southwestern town of Farah, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more, an official said.

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in the heart of Afghanistan's southwestern town of Farah, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more, an official said.

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired two missiles at a northwestern Pakistani militant stronghold on Friday, killing eight people, the second such attack this week, security and Taliban officials said.

French foreign minister tours Afghan village, meets tribal leaders to discuss aid. France's foreign minister walked into a remote Afghan village on Friday to talk with small farmers and local tribal leaders about how to bypass corrupt officials and bring aid directly to those who need it.

Analysis: US approach to Iran is toughening but outlook for harsher anti-nuke sanctions is dim. The Obama administration is shifting the focus of its Iran policy from talk to sanctions, but the prospect of winning early international support for toughened new penalties appears dim.

An Israeli minister said on Friday he was to travel to Turkey, in the first such visit since Israel's military offensive in Gaza at the turn of the year strained ties with Turkey.

Major world powers met in Brussels Friday to discuss Iran's rejection of an international nuclear fuel deal, after US President Barack Obama warned Tehran must face the consequences.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said presidential and legislative elections scheduled for January will be postponed, confirming that he has accepted advice not to hold the vote.

16 killed in suicide bombing in western Afghanistan; lawmaker escapes assassination near Kabul. A suicide bomber killed 16 people and wounded at least 23 others Friday in a busy city square in western Afghanistan, while near Kabul a powerful former warlord narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, officials said.

Major world powers met in Brussels Friday to plot their next move after Iran rejected a nuclear fuel deal, as the UN atomic watchdog's chief warned that Tehran risked losing a "unique" opportunity.

Iran says it will launch another communications satellite without outside help in 2 years. Iran plans to launch a communications satellite by late 2011 with no outside help, a top Iranian official said Friday, after Italy and Russia declined to put it into orbit.

Representative of Iraqi Shiite spiritual leader urges parties to break election law impasse. A top aide to Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader on Friday urged the country's fractious political blocs to resolve a crisis over a key election law that threatens to delay national polls planned for January.

Major world powers met in Brussels on Friday to plot their next move after Iran rejected a nuclear fuel deal, as the UN atomic watchdog's chief warned that Tehran risked losing a "unique" opportunity.

Brazil's leader urges freeze on Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem. Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is joining his Palestinian counterpart in calling on Israel to stop building new settlements in areas claimed by Palestinians.

Major world powers expressed disappointment Friday that Iran has "not responded positively" to a plan for resolving the standoff over its nuclear programme or agreed to new talks.

Opposition chief Tzipi Livni reiterated her support Friday for a Palestinian state and the resumption of peace talks as she made a rare foray by an Israeli leader into the Arab world.

Palestinians to set new date for elections after president accepts delay of January voting. Palestinian officials announced Friday that a new date for parliamentary and presidential elections will be set next month now that President Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to postpone the January vote, though the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers maintain they will boycott the voting.