Ex-British prime minister Tony Blair: The world is safer without Saddam Hussein

LONDON -- Former prime minister Tony Blair on Friday unequivocally defended the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, telling a panel investigating Britain's role in the war that the world was made "a safer place" by the removal of Saddam Hussein.

Death of Islamist Hamas commander in Dubai prompts hunt for killers

JERUSALEM -- A senior commander of the Islamist Hamas organization's military wing was killed this month in a hotel in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, prompting what officials there said would be an international search for members of a "professional criminal gang" Dubai blamed for the slaying.

Four Afghan soldiers killed in friendly fire incident with NATO troops

KABUL -- Mistaking each other for the enemy, NATO forces and Afghan soldiers battled in the morning darkness Saturday in a shootout that left at least four Afghan soldiers dead and prompted the Defense Ministry to call for the perpetrators to be punished.

Taliban maintains hard-line stance, denies U.N. meeting

KABUL -- The Taliban on Saturday denied meeting with the United Nations' special representative in Afghanistan and vowed to persist in its war "against the invaders."

Teams poll Haitians to learn what they need after earthquake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- How do you find out what the Haitian people really need now, nearly three weeks after the earthquake? You ask them.

China suspends U.S. military exchanges in wake of Taiwan arms deal

The Obama administration announced the sale Friday of $6 billion worth of Patriot anti-missile systems, helicopters, mine-sweeping ships and communications equipment to Taiwan in a long-expected move that sparked an angry protest from China.

Draft Defense Department budget avoids weapons cuts, adds aircraft

The Obama administration's 2011 defense budget avoids the controversial weapons cuts of last year, according to a draft copy, and continues to shift modest amounts of money to weapons programs such as helicopters, unmanned planes and Special Operations units that are in heavy use Afghanistan and...

U.S. sells weapons to Taiwan, angering China

The Obama administration announced the sale Friday of $6 billion worth of Patriot anti-missile systems, helicopters, mine-sweeping ships and communications equipment to Taiwan in a long-expected move that sparked an angry protest from China.

World briefs

UNITED NATIONS A top U.N. official met recently with Taliban leaders to discuss whether they would consider joining peace talks with Afghanistan's government, U.S. and U.N. officials said Friday.

After protests, China restricts seizure of land for redevelopment

BEIJING -- China on Friday unveiled a shake-up of the way land is seized for redevelopment after a public outcry over the violent tactics used by some developers and a rare public campaign by leading academics.

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North Korea says it is holding a second U.S. citizen

North Korea has notified the United States that it has another American in custody for allegedly entering the country illegally, the State Department announced Friday.