Vatican Pope John Paul II was fully conscious and serene after suffering a devastating heart attack, as the Vatican called on the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics to pray for him. Asia The death toll on earthquake-hit islands in northwest Indonesia soared to an estimated 1,300 as fear of another imminent disaster sent thousands of people fleeing for the hills. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe's opposition took the lead in early election results, winning victory in key cities, but crucial rural areas had yet to be counted and Britain and the main opposition party denounced the parliamentary vote as seriously flawed. Mideast Jewish settler leaders and Israeli security chiefs have clinched a deal to try to avoid armed confrontation during the controversial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip planned for later this year. Iraq Insurgents gunned down an Iraqi police chief and blew up the top of a centuries-old mosque tower as Sunni leaders feuded over their role in a government still a long way from being finalised. Lebanon Lebanon's prime minister-designate Omar Karameh was to meet his pro-Syrian allies, with his decision to resign still hanging in the balance along with elections due by the end of May. Britain Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown moved to the forefront of Labour's quest for re-election, pledging to make it possible for even more Britons to own their own homes. Czech Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross survived a no-confidence vote after the Communists abstained, meaning the opposition Civic Democrats failed to garner enough ballots to overthrow the Socialist-led government. Kyrgyzstan Felix Kulov, a respected opponent of Kyrgyzstan's ousted regime who was freed from jail hours after the government fell, said he would run in upcoming presidential elections. Monaco An accomplished sportsman, a confirmed bachelor, but at 47 still untried in the ways of government -- Prince Albert of Monaco has taken over the reins of power in the Mediterranean microstate as his father Prince Rainier lies gravely ill in hospital. ICoast Britain advised its nationals to leave Ivory Coast immediately, blaming a poor security situation and lack of progress in ending two and a half years of civil conflict in the west African nation. Nepal Former Nepal prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and 284 other activists detained when the king seized power in February have been released, the Nepali Congress (NC) party said.