Iraq Hundreds of Iraqis, including policemen in uniform, protested against the presence of British troops in the southern city of Basra after a police station was stormed to free two British soldiers. Germany German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats were to be first to embark on talks to form a government and break the political deadlock created by a general election with no clear winner. Indonesia Indonesia's health minister warned the country was facing a bird flu epidemic as two more possible victims died after showing signs of infection. EU-enlarge-Turkey-Cyprus BRUSSELS: EU diplomats hammered out a new accord on Turkey, overcoming last-minute objections from Cyprus, but the bloc is still battling to clear the way for membership talks with Ankara next month. Iran The UN atomic agency adjourned for a day delicate talks on whether to take an international standoff over Iran's nuclear programme to the UN Security Council, a spokesman said. US Powerful Hurricane Rita was upgraded to a category-four storm as it roared into the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico, packing winds of 135 miles (217 kilometers) per hour, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said. Mideast Israel reiterated threats to hamper January's Palestinian election if the radical Islamist movement Hamas stands, despite being urged by the United States to cooperate in organising the polls. EU-Britain-economy-deficit-pact BRUSSELS: The European Union's executive commission approved the launch of an excessive deficit procedure against Britain for allowing its public deficit to breach EU limits. Nigeria Nigerian separatist militants threatened to destroy oil wells and pipelines across the Niger Delta unless their arrested leader is released within hours. Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko, reeling from a series of blows that has left Ukraine in political limbo, groped for ways to get his "orange revolution" back on track after parliament shunned his nominee for prime minister. India At least 33 people have been killed, scores of fishermen are missing and tens of thousands of residents have been displaced after storms pounded the Indian and Bangladeshi coasts in the Bay of Bengal, officials said. NKorea North Korea said it was ready to aim a retaliatory blow at the United States to thwart any US plan to launch a nuclear strike.