NKorea North Korea pledged to give up its nuclear weapons and programs and return to the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a joint statement issued at six-nation talks here. Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his conservative challenger Angela Merkel each claimed they should lead Europe's biggest economy after a cliffhanger general election left Germany in political limbo Monday. Germany Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats have claimed a three-seat advantage in the German parliament after the general election, according to official results from the electoral commission on Monday. Afghanistan Election workers using trucks, helicopters and camels collected ballot boxes from across Afghanistan after the nation voted on a legislature for the first time in more than 30 years. Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ruled out making any further concessions on Iran's nuclear programme to avert an immediate threat of being referred to the United Nations Security Council. UN-Iran Top US, British, French and German officials met here and urged Iran to immediately return to negotiations over its suspected nuclear arms program to avoid being hauled before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. Iraq Iraqi rebels shot dead an MP and wounded another hours before parliament signed off the much-awaited draft constitution, paving the way for the charter to be put to a referendum on October 15. US Hurricane Katrina's relief supremo urged New Orleans to hold back on plans to let tens of thousands of evacuees return home from Monday, warning the storm-wrecked city remained unsafe. Mideast Mahmud Abbas warned against any interference in Palestinian affairs after Israel intensified its threats to disrupt January's parliamentary elections if the radical Hamas movement takes part.