Former Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit died at the hospital late on Sunday after nearly six months in a coma following a stroke, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday.

Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor confirmed Monday that tensions between Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and other Cabinet members led to Cruz's resignation over the weekend.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday called on the nation to help prevent the abuse and maltreatment of children, saying it is time to take concrete steps to protect the health and welfare of children.

The U.S. coalition forces have captured another suspected al-Qaida operative in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province, a press release of the U.S. military said Monday.

Pakistani police have arrested about 100 suspects in connection with a car bomb outside a police office in southwest city Quetta, which killed three people and injured five others on Nov. 2, the newspaper DAWN reported Monday.

Myanmar and South Korea are seeking to cooperate in forestry in addition to agriculture and energy as part of the bid to promote their economic ties.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki Moon agreed on Monday to enhance cooperation in having the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stop its nuclear plan.

The death sentence given to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Sunday has aroused mixed reactions worldwide, with many countries welcoming the end of the trial but opposing the use of death penalty.

The People's Party of Austria (OeVP) would be willing to resume negotiations with the Social Democrats (SPOe) after the investigation into Austria's purchase of Eurofighters and the Bawag bank scandal is completed, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, also leader of OeVP, told media on Sunday.

During Sunday's meeting with visiting Dutch counterpart Bernhard Bot, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on Sunday stressed the need to seal the Pak-Afghan border, saying it could be fenced and jointly monitored, local media reported Monday.