Iraq Insurgents renewed their deadly onslaught on the milestone Iraqi election as exiles around the globe seized the chance to take part in the first vote since Saddam Hussein was toppled almost 22 months ago. US US troops will pull out of Iraq if the new leaders to be elected on Sunday requested it, President George W. Bush said in an interview published by The New York Times, although he added that he expected the Iraqis to ask US troops to remain as helpers, not occupiers. Iraq Iraqi provinces imposed curfews in a bid to thwart plots by insurgents to wreck the country's first democratic elections in half a century. Iraq The European Commission proposed a new 200 million euro (260 million dollar) aid package for Iraq, as a sign of the EU's support for a new Iraqi government after weekend elections. Asia Peace talks began in earnest here between the Indonesian government and the main rebel movement in Aceh province, where a long-running conflict has been overshadowed by last month's devastating tsunami disaster. Mideast The Israeli army's chief of staff General Moshe Yaalon ordered an end to "offensive operations" in the Gaza Strip after the deployment of thousands of Palestinians security forces in the territory. Asia Regional officials meeting on this tsunami-hit island considered building an expansive warning system for the Indian Ocean that would trigger alerts for killer waves and other natural disasters. Warcrimes One of four Serbian generals, Vladimir Lazarevic, wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague for his role in the 1998-99 Kosovo war has decided to give himself up next week, more than a year after he was indicted, Serbia's prime minister said. NIreland British Prime Minister Tony Blair was holding showdown talks with Northern Ireland's biggest Catholic party to insist its paramilitary wing, blamed for a massive bank raid last month, end criminal activities. Health Vietnam recorded its 10th bird flu fatality in a month as US researchers said they had the first scientific evidence to confirm worries the avian virus could be transmitted from one human to another. Ukraine Ukraine's prosecutor general said that the former Soviet republic has closed all inquiries into alleged corruption by prime minister designate Yulia Timoshenko despite an arrest warrant against her issued by Russia. US Procter and Gamble announced a huge extension of its global household products empire in the form of acquisition of the Gillette razor group for about 57 billion dollars in shares.