Islamabad - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed Wednesday that Pakistan had sought help to tackle the financial crisis the Islamic militancy-hit country is currently seeing.

"The Pakistani authorities have requested discussions with the IMF on an economic program supported by financial assistance from the Fund to meet the balance of payments difficulties the country is experiencing as a result of high food and fuel prices and the global financial crisis," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the IMF.

Islamabad - Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta had confirmed his government had held talks with Taliban representatives in Saudi Arabia.

"Mr Spanta shared with me that, yes, there was an informal contact between the Afghan government and Taliban that took place between some clergymen from Afghanistan and some elements from the previous setup (Taliban regime) in Afghanistan," he told reporters in Islamabad in a joint press briefing with Spanta.

Spanta said the reconciliation process would move ahead only if militants were "ready to put down their weapons," accept the Afghan constitution and "live a peaceful life."

Athens/Nicosia - Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders met on Wednesday to discuss power-sharing and governance in the latest round of talks on ending their decades-old conflict and reuniting the island.

It was the sixth meeting between Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat since they launched a new round of peace talks on September 3. The two leaders are scheduled to meet again on November 3.

Harare - Firemen in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, are so hungry they have gone on strike, according to state media.

The state-controlled daily Herald reported that firemen downed their hoses on Tuesday after their employer, the Harare city council, stopped issuing them with food while at work.

"Only two firefighters and two officers reported for work yesterday (Tuesday)," the Herald said. "The officers alleged that the city had reneged on an arrangement to provide them with food while on duty."

Prague - Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's government faced a parliamentary confidence motion Wednesday, just as the Czech Republic prepares to take over the EU presidency in January.

The left-leaning opposition sought the vote on ousting the government after Topolanek's Civic Democrats, in power since January 2007, were weakened by a defeat in regional elections Saturday.

Political tension in the Central European nation is running high over the government's 2009 budget and before Senate run-off elections starting Friday that could bring more losses for the premier.