Mideast Mahmud Abbas was elected the new president of the Palestinian Authority, succeeding the late Yasser Arafat, according to exit polls, with hopes the poll would revive the Middle East peace process. Mideast Islamic militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which urged their members to boycott the Palestinian presidential election, declared they would cooperate with the victor after the poll. Sudan Africa's longest-running civil war came to an end as the Sudan's government and southern rebels signed a long-awaited peace accord amid calls for the deal to be extended to cover the crisis in Darfur. Asia Aid groups conceded some survivors may not have received help despite an unprecedented emergency operation two weeks after tsunamis killed more than 156,000 when they crashed into Indian Ocean shores, as local insurgencies complicated rescue efforts. Asia Kofi Annan's two-day visit to tsunami-battered Sri Lanka ended amid fresh tension between government and Tiger rebels after President Chandrika Kumaratunga acknowledged she had blocked the UN chief's tour to rebel strongholds. Iraq US Secretary of State Colin Powell voiced concern about the future of Iraq after the elections, as Britain announced a joint team would be sent to the war-torn country to reassess security. Saudi Four wanted militants were killed in a shootout with security forces in a desert area in Saudi Arabia, where the government is battling a wave of attacks by Al-Qaeda linked militants, the interior ministry said. Lebanon Three people, including a French UN peacekeeper, were killed in a flare-up of violence between Israeli troops and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia in the volatile border area between the two countries. Europe At least 14 people died, more than 1,000 homes were flooded and many more left without power after violent storms battered northern Europe over the weekend, bringing hurricane force winds and heavy rain. US The Detroit auto show opened with US carmakers showing off increased muscle and green technology to fight fierce competition from Asian rivals. Ireland Bertie Ahern, the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland who has played a key role in negotiating a settlement for Northern Ireland, announced he would run for a third and last term of office in 2007 elections.