Asia An unprecedented global aid operation gathered steam to save survivors of Asia's tsunamis amid fears of epidemics after the disaster that claimed more than 127,000 lives. Asia Logistical bottlenecks continued to hamper the distribution of relief supplies to those in most need in Asia's tsunami-hit regions, as funds pledged to the victims topped two billion dollars. Asia Secretary of State Colin Powell was leaving for Asia to inspect the devastation from last week's tsunamis and raise the US profile in relief efforts for countries where more than 127,000 people died. Asia The multinational operation to save more than one million Indonesian tsunami survivors finally picked up steam, a week after the disaster killed up to 100,000 people on Sumatra island. Asia Floods slowed aid to thousands of marooned survivors in Sri Lanka as the United States prepared to mount a military operation to help relief work as the tsunami death toll rose to nearly 30,000. Asia Thailand's confirmed death toll from the tidal wave disaster approached 5,000, including more than 2,400 foreign holidaymakers, and bodies were still being found a week after the tragedy. Asia Grieving Swedes, who may have lost more loved ones than any other Western nation in the tsunami disaster in Thailand, have contributed a record sum of around 60 million dollars to the rescue effort, aid organizations said. Iraq Nineteen people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack against Iraqi national guards as more US troops were sent to the restive city of Mosul to reinforce security ahead of landmark elections in four weeks. Syria US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said that Syria had made progress in improving security on the border with Iraq but that it must do more to stop infiltration by foreign fighters. Croatia Croatians were voting in presidential elections with incumbent Stipe Mesic expected to win his second five-year term with the prospect of leading the former Yugoslav republic into the European Union. Mideast Israeli troops poured into northern Gaza in an escalating campaign to halt rocket attacks which Mahmud Abbas, the favourite to become Palestinian president next week, said was designed to undermine the vote. Burundi Forty-six rebels and three soldiers have been killed in Burundi in an army assault on the rebel National Liberation Forces near the capital Bujumbura, the military said. Peru At least four policemen died in gunbattles in southern Peru, where an armed revolt against President Alejandro Toledo appeared to be widening, with heavily armed renegade soldiers standing sentinel on blocked roads in the city of Andahuaylas. Afghanistan A US soldier and an Afghan citizen were killed in a gunbattle in western Afghanistan's Shindand district near the city of Herat, a US military spokesman told AFP.