In Brief

* WAR PLANS – The Pentagon denied that a classified US military study said German intelligence provided a copy of Iraq’s war plans to the US military.

* PEACE TALKS – Talks between Ivory Coast’s government and rebels, which failed to take place as planned after a row over security, started yesterday morning, a government official said. * NUCLEAR ROW – Iran and Russia were to resume talks in Moscow to try to resolve worldwide concern over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme, feared by the West to be a cover for making an atomic weapon.* POLL BOYCOTT – An unprecedented election boycott by opposition parties has pushed Thailand deeper into political uncertainty but the Thaksin government vowed to go ahead with the snap vote, according to an aide.* FINAL COUNTDOWN – The European Union gave Serbia a “final countdown” to cooperate fully with the United Nations war crimes tribunal or jeopardise its hopes of joining the bloc.* AFGHAN UNREST – Inmates at Afghanistan’s main jail agreed to hand over three dead and 30 wounded after a weekend riot involving Taliban and al Qaeda inmates, as talks to end the standoff made headway, the justice ministry said.* AID PACKAGE – The European Union struggled to keep the outgoing Palestinian government financially afloat, unblocking a large aid package, without binding itself to further financial assistance when Hamas takes office.- Nampa-AFP* NUCLEAR ROW – Iran and Russia were to resume talks in Moscow to try to resolve worldwide concern over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme, feared by the West to be a cover for making an atomic weapon.* POLL BOYCOTT – An unprecedented election boycott by opposition parties has pushed Thailand deeper into political uncertainty but the Thaksin government vowed to go ahead with the snap vote, according to an aide.* FINAL COUNTDOWN – The European Union gave Serbia a “final countdown” to cooperate fully with the United Nations war crimes tribunal or jeopardise its hopes of joining the bloc.* AFGHAN UNREST – Inmates at Afghanistan’s main jail agreed to hand over three dead and 30 wounded after a weekend riot involving Taliban and al Qaeda inmates, as talks to end the standoff made headway, the justice ministry said.* AID PACKAGE – The European Union struggled to keep the outgoing Palestinian government financially afloat, unblocking a large aid package, without binding itself to further financial assistance when Hamas takes office.- Nampa-AFP