As Homs battles, Turkey readies Syria move

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian forces thrust into the rebellious city of Homs on Wednesday, killing as many as 100 civilians by the accounts of opposition activists, and Turkey appeared to be preparing a new diplomatic push against President Bashar al-Assad.

Signs build that Iran sanctions disrupt food imports

KUALA LUMPUR/TEHRAN (Reuters) - More evidence emerged on Tuesday of the crippling impact of new sanctions on Iran, with international traders saying Tehran is having trouble buying rice, cooking oil and other staples to feed its 74 million people weeks before an election.

Tear gas fired at Maldives protesters

MALE (Reuters) - The ousted president of the Maldives, credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean island resort, said on Wednesday he was forced out of power at gunpoint, prompting clashes between police and angry supporters.

Insight: In Sudan, glimpses of an Arab spring

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A few weeks ago, a leading opposition activist sat down in a downtown Khartoum office to talk to a journalist. The young man immediately removed the battery from his cellphone.

Sexual abuse silence "deadly" for Church: Vatican official

ROME (Reuters) - Hiding behind a culture of "omerta" -- the Italian word for the Mafia's code of silence -- would be deadly for the Catholic Church, the Vatican's top official for dealing with sexual abuse of minors by clergy said Wednesday.

NATO, Afghan and Pakistan officials to hold border talks

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - NATO, Afghan and Pakistani military officials will hold talks on improving border security and coordination on Wednesday, in a possible sign that tension is easing following a cross-border NATO air attack in November that infuriated Pakistan.

U.S., Japan decouple Marines Guam move from Okinawa base

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States agreed on Wednesday to decouple the transfer of thousands of U.S. Marines to Guam from the southern Japan island of Okinawa from plans to relocate a base on Okinawa, a step forward in resolving an irritant in relations.

Mogadishu car bomber kills at least nine: police

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least nine people Wednesday near a hotel where lawmakers often gather in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police said.

Egypt will not be swayed by aid threat in NGOs case: PM

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt said on Wednesday it would not be swayed by threats to aid when investigating foreign-funded pro-democracy groups and NGOs, a case that has prompted Washington to warn that U.S. military support worth $1.3 billion a year may be in jeopardy.

No immunity for Yemen's Saleh abroad: Human Rights Watch

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States and Gulf Arab states are not bound by a Yemeni parliament decision to grant President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution over civilian deaths during protests against his rule, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.