Iraq The US military said it unleashed seven air strikes in 24 hours on suspected weapons hideouts in rebel-held Fallujah, as thousands of troops camped outside geared for possible action. ICoast French forces wiped out Ivory Coast's military aircraft in retaliation for the killing of nine of its soldiers stationed here, and sent in reinforcements as anti-French feeling reached boiling point in the west African former French colony. UN-ICoast The UN Security Council condemned an attack in Ivory Coast that killed nine French soldiers and a US citizen, and France vowed to push the council for tough retaliatory measures including an arms embargo on the west African nation. Iran China gave Iran crucial backing in its stand-off with the UN's nuclear watchdog, with Beijing saying it opposed US efforts to have the Islamic republic referred to the United Nations Security Council. Mideast Prime minister Ahmed Qorei urged leaders of armed factions not to drag the Palestinian people into internecine conflict as their veteran leader Yasser Arafat continued to fight for his life in a Paris hospital. Thailand Buddhists in southern Thailand say they are living in fear of attack by militants out of revenge for the violent deaths of 87 Muslims at the hands of Thai security forces. EU European Union leaders achieved a facade of unity for long enough at summit talks last week to claim that Iraq was no longer cause for the unparalleled acrimony of recent times. Afghanistan Militants claiming to hold three kidnapped UN workers hostage said they would open talks with Afghan government negotiators on Sunday, raising hopes that a peaceful solution to the crisis could be found. Britain Six people were killed and 11 seriously hurt when a high-speed train derailed after colliding with a car at a rural crossing in southern England.