Middle East leaders settle into summit

WYE MILLS, OCT 17: Israeli and Palestinian leaders dropped the formality at their retreat in rural Maryland as they settled into an exten...

WYE MILLS, OCT 17: Israeli and Palestinian leaders dropped the formality at their retreat in rural Maryland as they settled into an extended summit intended to break the deadlock in Middle East peace talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat sat alone outdoors with an interpreter under a sun umbrella for an hour in one morning session yesterday while negotiators broke into groups tackling different areas.

Israeli trade and industry minister Natan Sharansky and Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath also met outside in the clear autumn air of the Wye plantation, a sprawling, tightly guarded retreat 70 miles (110 km) east of Washington.

But officials stressed that behind the relaxed image there was deadly serious discussion, with all sides fearing that breakdown of this US-brokered effort could bury the peace process, which has been moribund for 19 months.

SP leader Azam Khan walks out of jail after 23 months, hundreds of supporters welcome him

Cities2 hr ago

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is facing multiple cases, walked out of the Sitapur jail today after 23 months. He was scheduled to be released early Tuesday morning, but it was delayed due to impending court proceedings. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Sitapur jail, waiting for the SP leader to walk out of prison.

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