Banjaluka  - Bosnia's Serb Republic (RS) on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a former US diplomat, local media reported.

RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik told journalists in Banjaluka that charges were had been filed against Raffi Gregorian, who is deputy International High Representative in Bosnia.

Gregorian is charged of plotting against the Serb Republic, the Serb entity within Bosnia. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) is an ad hoc international institution set up to oversee the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the Bosnian-Serb war.

"The charges are written and sent, " Dodik said.

New York  - The World Jewish Congress on Wednesday lodged a rare protest to the UN General Assembly president for disparaging Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people.

Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann had likened Israel's policy toward the Palestinians to "the apartheid of an earlier era." He also called for punitive measures against the Jewish state, including divestment and sanctions.

D'Escoto Brockmann said this week on the international day to support the inalienable rights of the Palestinians that the biggest failure of the UN had been not to establish a Palestinian state after 60 years.

New York-based WJC President Ronald Lauder said the UN official's statement was "false and without basis."

Washington  - As households across the United States prepare to roast the traditional turkey dinner to mark the Thanksgiving holiday, two birds were able to escape the pot and instead board a flight to Disneyland thanks to US President George W Bush.

Bush pardoned two turkeys in a humourous ceremony that has become a tradition at the White House.

Voters dubbed the birds Pumpkin and Pecan after two typical Thanksgiving pies. Later Wednesday the animals were to be flown to Disneyland in California, where Pumpkin would serve as honorary marshal of the Thanksgiving day parade.

"Together these birds will gobble the rest of their days in 'The Happiest Place on Earth.' I just hope they stay humble there," Bush joked.

Geneva  - Hundreds of children remain soldiers in the service of rebel groups in the Central African Republic, and recent insecurity in the unstable country might harm efforts to ensure their release, UN children's charity UNICEF said Wednesday.

So far, the agency has managed to free about 100 child soldiers through negotiations.

Rebel groups and the government are set to meet in early December to continue peace talks.

The UN's Children Fund warned that two attacks last week could undermine progress which has been made over the last year.

Bucharest  - Romania is ready to leave its 498 soldiers in Iraq if the Iraqi government asks them to stay, Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu was quoted Wednesday as saying.

Cologne, Germany  - Bundesliga club Cologne have confirmed they plan to bring their long lost son Lukas Podolski back home from Bayern Munich.

Club president Wolfgang Overath and general manager Michael Meier said that Cologne have talked with the relevant parties and are now waiting for a signal from Munich on the future of the Germany striker.

However Meier told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa Wednesday a transfer during the forthcoming winter break could be ruled out.

"It's not an issue for this winter. Bayern have decided that he is staying for the time being," he said.