World briefs

IRAQ: Series of attacks kill 23

A car bomb ripped through an outdoor market Tuesday in a mainly Shia city of Kut in the deadliest of a series of attacks that killed at least 23 people nationwide, officials said. The attack came hours after suspected al-Qaida militants killed five Iraqi soldiers at a western Baghdad checkpoint, planting the terror group's black banner before fleeing. It was the second time in less than a week that al-Qaida's flag has appeared at the scene of an attack.

MEXICO: Crackdown toll: 28,000

President Felipe Calderon said he would consider a debate on legalizing drugs yesterday as his government announced that more than 28,000 people have been killed in drug violence since he launched a crackdown against cartels in 2006. The statistics were released during a meeting with Calderon and representatives of business and civic groups, where attendees exploring ways to improve Mexico's anti-drug strategy called on the government to open a debate on legalization.

ECUADOR: Amazon drilling ban

Ecuador pledged in a pioneering agreement with the United Nations Tuesday to refrain from oil drilling in a pristine Amazon preserve in return for some $3.6 billion in payments from rich nations. The accord, signed by Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino and Rebeca Grynspan, associate administrator of the UN Development Program, sets up a trust fund to be administered by the world body. The three oil fields under the Yasuni preserve would remain untapped for a decade under the pact.

MIDEAST: Lebanon, Israel gunfire

Lebanese and Israeli troops exchanged fire Tuesday in a fierce border battle that killed a senior Israeli officer, two Lebanese soldiers and a journalist - underlining how easily tensions can reignite along the frontier where Israel and Hezbollah fought a war four years ago. It was the worst fighting since 2006 in the area, where Israeli and Lebanese soldiers patrol within shouting distance of each other.