Kuala Lumpur (Reuters): Malaysia's ruling party was told on Friday to crank up the campaign machinery, as speculation grew that the government may call a snap poll sometime this year.

Caracas/London (Agencies): Venezuelan government and opposition leaders on Thursday welcomed a new international effort to mediate their bitter standoff even as each side clung to its hardline stance.

Seoul (Reuters): South Korean president-elect Roh Moo-hyun urged the United States on Friday to open talks with communist North Korea to try to solve the peninsula's nuclear crisis.

Baghdad/Moscow (Agencies): Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called on his people Friday to rise up and defend the nation against a new U.S.-led attack and promised that Iraq's enemies would face "suicide" at the gates of his capital.

Paris (Reuters): Chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix said on Friday his team was not yet sure Iraq was rid of banned weapons and urged Baghdad to come up with convincing proof so as to avoid war.

Washington (Associated Press): Fearing war could start in weeks, protesters are massing in Washington and cities around the country to press For a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Iraq and an end to America's own weapons of mass destruction.

Bangkok (Agence France-Presse): Southeast Asian nations should work quickly to integrate their economies in order to compete successfully against their giant neighbor China, a peak U.S.-based business group said Friday.

London (Reuters): Fears of a new Gulf War rattled world financial markets again on Friday, triggering a flight into safe-haven investments like gold and government bonds and battering the dollar and stocks.

Luxor, Egypt (Agence France-Presse): Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka conceded victory in the Dakar Rally to his Mitsubishi teammate Stephane Peterhansel on Friday but then vowed to return in 2004 and add the crown to the title he won in 2002.

Honolulu, Hawaii (Agencies): Playing at opposite ends of the day, South Africa's Retief Goosen and Kenny Perry fired six-under-par 64s to share the first-round lead in the US$4.5 million Hawaii Open at Waialae Country Club on Thursday. .