Mideast Israeli helicopter gunships fired rockets at targets in Gaza City, an AFP correspondent witnessed, just hours after four soldiers were killed in a Palestinian attack on a tunnel under a military post in the area. Iraq The US military denied that ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was on a hunger strike, as more US and Iraqi troops were killed trying to impose order ahead of next month's landmark elections. Iraq Seven US Marines were killed in Iraq's restive Al-Anbar province, which hosts the rebel flashpoint towns of Fallujah and Ramadi, the marines said. Iran The European Union and Iran begin talks towards giving Tehran trade, technology and security rewards for suspending crucial nuclear activities that could be used to make nuclear weapons. NKorea North Korea said that it was politically stable and united behind the leadership of Kim Jong-Il, denouncing reports of instability as a US-inspired smear campaign. Philippines Security forces across the Philippines were on full alert as police probed a bombing that claimed 15 lives and wounded scores of other people in the southern port city of General Santos, officials said. WTO China will impose duties on textile and clothing exports to ease international concerns mainland producers could flood markets when a decades-old quota system is lifted next month, state press reported. Fbl More than 70,000 people were evacuated from Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium following a bomb scare, club sources said. Ukraine Ukraine's opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko said he was not ready to blame the ruling elite with trying to poison him after doctors confirmed he was disfigured after ingesting a massive dose of a deadly toxin. Romania Romania's presidential race ended in a tie between Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and his centre-right rival Traian Basescu, exit polls showed a few hours after voting ended. Myanmar At least two Myanmar dissidents were among thousands of prisoners freed after the military government announced it had begun releasing more than 5,000 detainees in a third mass release in less than a month, relatives and officials said. Kuwait PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas apologized to Kuwait for the organization's pro-Baghdad stand during Iraq's 1990 invasion of the emirate, at the start of a landmark visit aimed at healing a 14-year rift.