VIENNA, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - The refusal by most EU countries to back Egypt's call for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East at a UN conference last month appears to be causing friction between Cairo and Europe.

Egypt has asking the countries to explain their opposition, diplomatic sources in Vienna, where the conference was held, told AFP.

In a letter, Cairo expressed 'surprise and regret' at the decision by 25 EU countries not to endorse its call for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East at the UN nuclear watchdog's annual conference in September, diplomats said.

LONDON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - British life insurer Resolution, which is merging with peer Friends Provident, on Friday snubbed a formal bid from Pearl Assurance worth some 4.8 billion pounds (6.9 billion euros, 9.8 billion dollars).

The board of Resolution, which had already rejected an informal approach last week, said again that the new 691-pence cash offer for each Resolution share 'significantly undervalues' the company.

Resolution announced in July a merger with Friends Provident to create a new firm worth 8.6 billion pounds and known as Friends Financial Group.

LONDON, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - The world's largest reinsurer, Swiss Re, on Monday revealed it was talking to Britain's Standard Life about a deal to buy life insurance group Resolution.

Resolution, which is merging with peer Friends Provident, last week rejected an informal takeover proposal from Pearl Assurance worth 4.53 billion pounds (9.26 billion dollars, 6.54 billion euros).

Zurich-based Swiss Re said Monday that it has not entered into any 'binding commitments' with Standard Life, which had announced last month that it was mulling a rival bid for Resolution.

LONDON, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - British life insurer Resolution, in the process of merging with peer Friends Provident, said Wednesday that it has rejected a takeover bid from Pearl Assurance worth 4.53 billion pounds (9.26 billion dollars, 6.54 billion euros).

The board of Resolution said in a statement that the 660-pence cash offer for each Resolution share 'significantly undervalues' the group and its prospects of going forward as a partner of Friends Provident.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 10, 2007 (AFP) - The UN Security Council was expected to vote on Friday on a resolution to expand the United Nations role in Iraq, diplomats said.

The United States and Britain, the draft's co-sponsors, delayed the vote -- originally scheduled for Thursday -- by 24 hours to give the Iraqi government time to review minor changes made to the text.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was away on official trips to Turkey and Iran, forcing a postponement of the vote until Friday, US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters on Thursday.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 9, 2007 (AFP) - The UN Security Council delayed on Thursday its vote on a resolution to expand the United Nations role in Iraq by 24 hours to give the Iraqi government time to review it, diplomats said.

The United States and Britain, the draft's co-sponsors, wanted to make sure that recent minor changes to the text were backed by the Iraqi government.

But Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was away on official trips to Turkey and Iran, forcing a delay of the vote until Friday, the US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters.

KHARTOUM, Aug 1, 2007 (AFP) - Sudan on Wednesday said it formally accepted a UN Security Council resolution authorising the deployment of a hybrid African Union-UN force in war-torn Darfur.

'We announce our acceptance of the resolution,' Foreign Minister Lam Akol told journalists the day after the council approved a 26,000-strong force for Darfur, where an estimated 200,000 people have died from war and famine since 2003.

'We also announce our engagement in applying the part that concerns us' in Resolution 1769, Akol said.

LONDON, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - British life insurance groups Friends Provident and Resolution said on Monday that they were in advanced talks on a merger worth 8.31 billion pounds (12.4 billion euros, 17.1 billion dollars).

'Friends Provident and Resolution believe a merger would create significant value for both sets of shareholders by combining Friends Provident`s new business growth opportunities with Resolution`s strong cash flow generation,' the pair said in a short statement.