Iraq At least 843 Iraqis were crushed to death or drowned in a stampede on a Baghdad bridge as vast crowds of Shiite pilgrims were sent into panic by rumours of suicide bombers in their midst. US Rescue teams facing a "logistics nightmare" struggled to contain rising flood waters in New Orleans and rescue trapped survivors of Hurricane Katrina that left hundreds feared dead along the US Gulf Coast. Indonesia Tears of joy and hope flowed in Indonesia as authorities freed more than 1,400 rebel Acehnese prisoners detained around the country, meeting a key condition of a historic peace pact. Philippines The Philippine Congress threw out two impeachment complaints against President Gloria Arroyo, all but guaranteeing she would remain in power despite charges she rigged last year's election. Mideast Israel's parliament approved an historic plan for Egyptian border guards to patrol along the Gaza border after the last Israeli troops leave the Palestinian territory next month. Poland International dignitaries and ordinary workers marked the 25th birthday of Solidarity, with some lauding the achievements of the first free trade union in the communist bloc while others decried what they called Poland's deteriorating social climate. Germany German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder issued a defiant call to battle at a party congress of his Social Democrats ahead of a general election they are almost certain to lose. China-US-EU China and the United States failed after two days of talks to resolve a textile dispute that could see more limits placed on Chinese garment imports, a US industry official said. Libya One million Libyans from across the country converged on a banner-festooned Tripoli to take part in festivities marking the 36th anniversary of Colonel Moamer Kadhafi's seizure of power. Lebanon Lebanese police raided a Beirut flat reportedly used by former security chiefs to plan the attack that killed former premier Rafiq Hariri six months ago, an AFP correspondent reported. afp