Gaza  - Leaders of the rival Hamas and Fatah movements held a meeting in Hamas-ruled Gaza on Wednesday to discuss reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and mutual reconciliation.

The meeting between the two movements' leaders is the first of its kind since Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2007 following weeks of bloodshed between the two groups' warring militants.

Four Fatah leaders, headed by Abdallah el-Ifranji arrived at the office of Hamas spokesman in Gaza Ayman Taha to hold talks with four Hamas leaders headed by senior Hamas leader Salah el-Bardawil.

Harare - The United States ambassador to Zimbabwe on Wednesday warned of new targeted sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and senior members of his party unless they show willingness to reform.

In an interview with journalists in Harare, ambassador James McGee said current US sanctions against Mugabe and senior members of his party would remain in place "until we see some positive movement."

Amman - King Abdullah II of Jordan is to pay a working visit to Japan starting on Sunday, the royal court announced Wednesday.

During the visit, which is due to last for several days, the monarch will meet Emperor Akitio and hold talks with Prime Minister Taro Aso that focus on latest developments in the Middle East, particularly efforts under way to spur peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, a royal court statement said.

The discussions will also tackle means of boosting bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic spheres, it added.

Baghdad - Even as the second bombing in as many days struck a Shiite shrine in Baghdad Wednesday, many Iraqis welcomed US President Barack Obama's commitment to withdraw US soldiers from Iraq.

"Our role is to train Iraqis to take control of their own country so we can start bringing our folks home," Obama said, to rousing cheers from the US troops gathered to greet him during his four-hour trip to Baghdad Tuesday evening.

Geneva  - Libya has filed a civil lawsuit against the Canton of Geneva for arresting last year the son and daughter-in-law of the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi, the Swiss TSR channel reported Wednesday.

The lawsuit, for over 500,000 francs (437,000 dollars), alleges the manner of the arrest was disproportionate and violated international regulations related to diplomacy.

In July last year, employees at a Geneva hotel called the police to complain about the abuse of two servants at the hands of their foreign bosses, Hannibal al-Qadhafi and his wife.

Berlin - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said Wednesday that he would hold fresh talks with Slovenia later this month in a bid to resolve the border dispute between the two neighbours.

The meeting would be with Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor, Sanader told a news conference after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

The two leaders met recently but failed to achieve a breakthrough on the border issue, which dates back to 1991 when the two republics declared independence from Yugoslavia.