In response to the death sentence passed on Saddam Hussein on Sunday morning, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has said it is extremely satisfying that the former dictator has been made to answer for his crimes and that the first verdict has now been handed down.

One Islamic Jihad (Holy War) militant was killed and another senior militant survived on Sunday night after their car was hit by an Israeli aircraft rocket in northern Gaza Strip, witnesses and medics said.

UN human rights chief Lousie Arbour on Sunday called for Iraq to refrain from executing former President Saddam Hussein and ensure that he receives a fair appeals process.

The 16th summit of the Ibero- American Nations Organization ended in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, on Sunday with the signing of the Montevideo Commitment - calling on donors to promote development, especially in vulnerable communities, to slow migration.

Hungary will join Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi's initiative to set up a joint European electricity services authority, Hungarian Minister of Economy and Energy Janos Koka said on Sunday.

Russia calls for the immediate ceasefire of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which resulted in grave casualties in recent days, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its official website on Sunday.

The second session of World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) kicked off on Sunday in Pakistan's capital city Islamabad, which is attended by some 500 political and business leaders from 57 countries.

Bishop of Paphos Chrysostomos was elected Sunday Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus with 73 votes, while his opponent Limassol Bishop Athanasios received 57 votes.

Sudan expressed on Sunday its grave concern over the developments of situations in the occupied Palestinian territories, condemning the "brutal practices" by the Jewish state against the Palestinian people.

A former rebel leader in western Sudanese region of Darfur, who has reached a peace deal with the government, has cautiously welcomed on Sunday Eritrea's initiative to host negotiations between the Sudanese government and rebel groups which still reject the peace accord.