World News, 10/18/04 - 2004-10-18
Iraqi officials say the U.S. military has released a key negotiator involved in efforts to avert full scale military assault on Fallujah--an insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad. Officials say the Sunni Muslim cleric was handed over to Iraqi police, who took him back to his home today.
A high-ranking delegation from North Korea is in Beijing for talks expected to focus on the standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions as well as economic issues. Kim Yong Nam, the North's second in command, is scheduled to meet with President Hu Jintao, Prime minister Wen Jiabao ans other senior Chinese officials.
Afghanistan's interim President Hamid Karzai has widened his lead, as more votes are counted from the country's first direct presidential election. Officials say as of this Monday morning, Mr Karzai was holding a lead of about 45 percentage points over his nearest rival, former education minister Yunus Qanuni.
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