Tehran- Iranian Vice-President Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei has been summoned by parliament for having made pro-Israeli comments, ISNA news agency reported Tuesday.

The cultural commission of the parliament has called for a special session on Wednesday with Rahim-Mashaei for him to reply to "questions, ambiguities and criticism" by the deputies over the comments.

The vice-president, who is in charge of cultural heritage and tourism, said that Iran would be friends with both the Israeli and American people despite political problems with the two countries. He emphasized this position again on Monday.

Beirut- A Syrian-Lebanese summit scheduled for August 13 and 14 is to focus on the establishment for the first time of diplomatic relations including the opening of embassies between the two countries, a Lebanese government source said Tuesday.

"The establishment of diplomatic relations between Damascus and Beirut, and the opening of embassies in each other's country for the first time in their history will be at the focus of the discussions between the two state leaders," said the Lebanese official, who requested anonymity.

New York - The UN Security Council was studying Tuesday a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional end of hostilities in Georgia and the complete withdrawal of Russian and Georgian forces to their positions held prior to August 7.

The draft written by France, which holds the current presidency of the European Union, was distributed late Monday to the council's 15 members as Russian forces expanded their holds in Georgian territory.

London, Aug. 12 : A British soldier''s harrowing account of a merciless massacre that took place during World War Two has been auctioned off for 320 pounds, 65 years after the event.

Private Arthur Haines was in a Singapore military hospital with malaria when invading Japanese troops stormed the building and killed more than 200 people.

Although his life was spared, the soldier witnessed the gruesome killings of his comrades, doctors and nurses who were either bayoneted, shot or suffocated to death.

After being taken prisoner, Haines, 24, managed to jot down the bloody episode on a four page letter.

Washington, Aug. 11 : Pakistan''s ISI is setting up a TV channel in Bangladesh as a part of its war over airwaves in the region, says the US based Global Geopolitics Network.

Pakistan''s state broadcaster PTV is also reported to have intensified its anti-India propaganda in the wake of the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir over the Amarnath Shrine forest land transfer issue. On an average, at least two hours of anti-Indian propaganda is aired by PTV.

Melbourne, Aug 11 : Once known as the world’s heaviest man, Manuel Uribe, stepped out of the house for the first time in five months, accompanied by his girlfriend.

The 43-year-old, who once weighed nearly 560kg, went on a day trip to a lake in Northern Mexico, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He was taken from his home on a forklift, and loaded onto a platform truck.

Uribe has been dieting, and now weighs around 310kg.