Mideast Israel's historic withdrawal from the Gaza Strip will officially kick off Sunday at midnight, with Jewish settlers granted a two-day grace to leave voluntarily before Israeli security enforce an unprecedented evacuation. Iraq Iraq's president said the country's first post-Saddam Hussein constitution was nearly ready, as focus moved to autonomy for the majority Shiites, an issue that could trigger a revolt from the ousted Sunni Arab elite. US-Iraq Anti-war protests swelled outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, as US officials reportedly worked behind the scenes to get Iraq's new constitution ready by its Monday deadline. SriLanka Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in an attack blamed by police on Tamil rebels that threatens to undermine the peace process. NZealand Former New Zealand premier David Lange, who led the country as it split with the United States over nuclear policy and battled France over the sinking of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, has died aged 63. Indonesia Indonesian ministers and other officials headed for Finland to sign an agreement with separatist rebels to end decades of bloodshed in tsunami-hit Aceh province.