Lebanon Lebanon's outgoing government said Syria would start a pullback of troops in Lebanon after a summit on Monday, but pro-Damascus movements rejected an immediate and complete withdrawal because the country remained in a "state of war" with Israel. United States The United States said it will keep up pressure on Syria to completely withdraw troops from Lebanon despite the announcement that Syria would start a military pullback. Mideast Israel upped the diplomatic pressure on Damascus and joined chief ally Washington in deriding a Syrian promise to redeploy troops, amid fears that violence could flare on its northern border. Italy The Italian journalist wounded by US troops shortly after the end of her month-long kidnap ordeal fanned a growing diplomatic rift between Rome and Washington by suggesting the US soldiers deliberately tried to kill her. Vatican Pope John Paul II made a much awaited appearance at his 10th-floor hospital window, waving to about 300 hymn-singing pilgrims below and making the sign of the cross. Iraq Iraq's new parliament will hold its first session in 10 days, more than a month after the country's historic vote, top officials in the Kurdish and Shiite blocs negotiating a governing coalition said. Iran Iranian officials strongly criticised the European Union for lacking "seriousness" in negotiations aimed at securing guarantees the Islamic republic will not acquire nuclear weapons. Britain Nearly 200 trained Al-Qaeda terrorists are on the loose in Britain, the former head of London's Metropolitan Police said, in an alarming twist to a heated debate over controversial new anti-terrorist legislation. China China warned the United States and Japan against including Taiwan in their military pact, while also seeking to calm fears that the lifting of an EU arms embargo would lead to an attack against the island. Ireland Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, ended its annual conference with a strong appeal for the alleged IRA killers of a Catholic in Belfast to give themselves up.