Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat was in Moscow Friday when Russian President Vladimir Putin helped connect him with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak for a conference call to aid in alleviating the violence in the Middle East.

Indonesia: Megawati Set To Replace Wahid With Amien Rais’s Support 
Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri has said she is ready to replace the embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia. She, however, does not want him to be removed unconstitutionally, she said on Thursday.

Egyptian Parties And Forces Call For Expelling Israeli Ambassador 

Egyptian political parties and forces have been praising Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s decision to recall the Egyptian Ambassador from Tel Aviv, and are asking for more acts to deter Israel.

Supreme Court Steps Into U.S. Election Imbroglio

The U.S. Supreme Court produced the latest dramatic twist in the snared race for the White House on Friday, wading into the controversy over disputed vote tallies in the decisive state of Florida.