Antananarivo, Madagascar  - Regional African powers on Wednesday criticized the "undemocratic" actions of Madagascar's opposition as a protracted power struggle on the island drew to an end.

A senior military team on Tuesday transferred power to Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina that had been handed to it by President Marc Ravalomanana.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who chairs the Southern African Development Community, stressed that the regional group would not tolerate undemocratic actions.

Taipei  - The Red Cross societies of Taiwan and China are to increase cooperation with the signing of an agreement that follows improved relations across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) said Wednesday.

Chen Shih-kuei, secretary general of the Taiwan Red Cross, was quoted as saying that a pact was to be signed soon in Taipei with China's Red Cross. Their first agreement was signed 19 years ago.

The new agreement is to include cooperation in the areas of medical assistance and sea rescues, Chen said.

Hong Kong  - A speech in Hong Kong by a campaigner for Tibetan self-determination was postponed after Beijing officials complained about the event, organizers said Wednesday.

Kate Saunders, communications director of the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet, was scheduled to speak at Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents Club Tuesday.

Officials from China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong contacted the club to let them know they were "unhappy" about the speech, the South China Morning Post reported.

Beijing  - North Korean Premier Kim Yong Il arrived Tuesday in China for talks at which Chinese leaders were expected to press North Korea to resume dialogue on ending its nuclear weapons programme.

North Korea's ministers of agriculture, foreign trade, culture and metallurgy are accompanying Kim on his five-day visit, Chinese state media said.

The foreign ministry said that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao would discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues with Kim, whose trip is timed to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Taipei  - Taiwan has congratulated Mauricio Funes on his victory in El Salvador's presidential election and vowed to strengthen diplomatic ties with the Central American country, the Central News Agency (CNA) said Tuesday.

CNA said that after Funes, the left-wing candidate, had won the Sunday's election, Taiwan's ambassador to El Salvador Liao Shih-chieh went to Funes' campaign headquarters to deliver the message of congratulation from President Ma Ying-jeou.

Cairo  - A confrontation over freedom of expression is brewing in the UN Human Rights Council after Egypt began circulating a draft resolution that Western countries and human-rights groups fear could circumscribe free speech.

Egypt began passing a resolution Friday among delegations from the 47 countries currently serving on the UN Human Rights Council that reportedly calls for further "limitations" on speech that could be construed as defaming religions.