Iraq A suicide bomber killed more than 110 people when he blew up his car in the middle of a crowd in a central Iraqi town, in the deadliest single attack since the US-led invasion two years ago. Lebanon Lebanon's pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karameh resigned in the face of mass protests, bringing to a head a political crisis sparked by the murder two weeks ago of his predecessor Rafiq Hariri. Lebanon Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara left Riyadh after a brief visit during which he promised that Damascus would work on setting a timetable for the pullout of its troops from Lebanon. Vatican Pope John Paul II has begun therapy to recover his voice following his throat operation, the Vatican said, trying to dispel concern that he may be unable to speak again as spiritual leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics. Mideast Israel looked set for a U-turn by deciding not to destroy the homes of settlers due to be uprooted from Gaza, as a special unit was established to combat extremist violence threatening the pullout. US The United States said it is studying ways to support talks between three European countries and Iran over Tehran's alleged plans to develop nuclear weapons. US The United States in an annual report on human rights combined familiar criticism of China's and Russia's record with harsh accusations of abuses in key Middle East allies, particularly Saudi Arabia. Congo An international body monitoring the introduction of democracy in Democratic Republic of Congo demanded the immediate arrest of six men it said were behind the murder of nine UN soldiers in the central African country. Portugal Four firefighters died and another suffered light burns, after the truck they were traveling in while battling a wind-fueled wildfire in Portugal became surrounded by flames.