Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko was sworn in Ukraine's president and vowed to steer the country toward the West, capping a popular revolt and a bitter months-long fight over the destiny of a nation historically entwined with Russia. Iraq Al-Qaeda's frontman in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi declared war on the elections which he said were aimed at bringing the country under Shiite control, in an audiotape posted on an Islamist website. Iraq The interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi insisted that Iraq's looming elections would put an end to the country's bloody violence. Mideast Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was confident that the armed factions would soon call a formal ceasefire as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon acknowledged a respite in rocket attacks from Gaza. Iraq Eight Chinese hostages freed in Iraq have been handed back to the Chinese authorities, a diplomat said, ending 24 hours of jitters and uncertainty about their whereabouts. Iran Iran said it was not taking talk of a US attack seriously, but nevertheless cautioned Washington that military action against the Islamic republic would be a "major strategic blunder". Indonesia The Indonesian death toll from last month's earthquake and tsunamis climbed to 173,981, according to health ministry figures released as authorities said the relief operation's emergency stage was drawing to a close. Serbia The UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo could collapse back into war unless it becomes an independent state, an international think-tank warned in a report to be published on Monday. US Freezing temperatures compounded blizzard-like conditions in parts of the northeastern United States as the first major snowstorm of the year swept across the region.