New Delhi - United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta held talks with Indian Home Minister P Chdiambaram Thursday on various issues including terrorism and the situation in neighbouring Pakistan, officials and news reports said.

Panetta is on his first overseas visit since being appointed head of the CIA by US President Barack Obama.

He is scheduled to leave for Pakistan later in the day.

Indian and US diplomatic officials described Panetta's meeting with the home minister as a courtesy call.

Amritsar, March 19 : Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the highest governing body of Sikhs, has written a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over the reported fire incident of a Gurdwara in East London (UK).

“The SGPC has written a letter to Dr. Manmohan Singh about Gurdwara Sahib burnt in East London (UK). It has also demanded a police investigation to know if it was an accident or anything else,” said Avtar Singh Makkar, the President SGPC.

Kabul - An Afghan member of parliament, a local police commander and three bodyguards were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in southern province of Helmand on Thursday, officials said.

"Amer Dad Mohammad Khan, a member of parliament, and Abdul Samad Khaksar, a local police commander were killed when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle today," said Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor of Helmand.

He said the blast also caused several other casualties , but could not provide any exact figures.

However, Wali Khan Sabari, another Helmand lawmaker said that the bomb also killed three bodyguards.

Tel Aviv - Israeli troops who fought in the recent offensive in the Gaza Strip killed Palestinians under permissive rules of engagement and destroyed their property, according to soldiers who participated in the fighting.

The accounts include reports of shooting at people known to be non-combatants, evacuating families to zones which the military had defined as no-entry zones and therefore would open fire at any person entering, acts of vandalism and abuse of humanitarian aid.

Srinagar, Mar 19 : Hundreds of women separatists took to streets on Thursday to protest against alleged human rights violation in the region.

They raised slogans and brandished banners during the demonstration. They urged the State Government to check violation of rights in the Kashmir Valley.

Stockholm - The Swedish government pledged 84 million kronor (10 million dollars) in humanitarian aid for Zimbabwe on Thursday, but said it wants to see more reforms in place before it resumes direct aid to the government.

"Sweden is prepared to give more humanitarian aid but a stronger involvement in the country hinges on reforms taking immediate effect and that they have an impact," International Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson said.