WASHINGTON, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the EU-backed candidate to head the International Monetary Fund, said Thursday the financial institution's future is threatened by questions of relevancy and legitimacy.

'Indeed, what might be at stake today is the very existence of the IMF as the major institution providing financial stability to the world, a global public good,' Strauss-Kahn said, according to the text of his speech to the IMF executive board released by the IMF.

BUDAPEST, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - Here are excerpts from the speech given by Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany to his socialist deputies in a closed-door meeting in May 2006, weeks after winning re-election. In it, he admits to having 'lied morning, night and evening' to electors about the dire state of the economy. The leak of an audio tape of the speech, on September 17, 2006, sparked several days of riots and months-long anti-government protests.

WASHINGTON, Sept 12, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush is expected to endorse in a televised speech Thursday a plan to withdraw some 30,000 US troops from Iraq by July 2008, US media reported Wednesday.

Several US newspapers including The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported that Bush is expected to back the plans of General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, to gradually withdraw US troops from their current level of 168,000 to 130,000 by next summer.

WASHINGTON, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush will make a televised speech on his plans for future US troop levels in Iraq at 9:00 pm Thursday (Friday 0100 GMT), the White House announced Tuesday.

In the address, Bush will 'address the nation on his proposed way forward in Iraq, obviously responding to the testimony this week' before Congress from the top US General in Iraq David Petraeus, and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

WASHINGTON, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) - The White House remained mum Tuesday on any potential plans President George W. Bush might have to reduce troops levels in Iraq, ahead of a speech he is due to deliver this week.

'It's safe to say that the president will be making his recommendations and we are not going to play the game of what he is likely to do, we will allow him to deliver his own decisions to the nation,' White House spokesman Tony Snow said, asked about how Bush might follow recommendations of General David Petraeus.

DILI, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) - East Timor's new premier Xanana Gusmao pledged Wednesday to bring change to the nation, five years after it won independence and following more than a year of tensions in the wake of deadly unrest.

'This mandate clearly shows the political wishes of all Timorese to introduce changes,' Gusmao said in a speech after he was sworn in as the tiny nation's prime minister.

BRUSSELS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday voiced support for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for urgent action to reduce poverty.

'I fully share the UK prime minister's view on the key priority to be given to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)' said Barroso in a statement.

'There has been some progress and success is still possible in most parts of the world. But much remains to be done.'

UNITED NATIONS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday gave effusive praise to visiting British leader Gordon Brown for his stirring plea for a 'coalition for justice' to help meet key world poverty reduction targets.

'Today, we in the UN have even more reason to be grateful to you, Prime Minister, with the launch of this important initiative' on the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), Ban said after Brown called for change to help fulfil the eight MDGs.

UNITED NATIONS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - British leader Gordon Brown on Tuesday called for a new humanitarian alliance to help meet key world poverty reduction targets, evoking a 'coalition for justice' in the spirit of the US Peace Corps.

In an address to the United Nations in New York, Brown said change was needed to help fulfill the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), progress on which is behind schedule eight years before they are due to be completed.

UNITED NATIONS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - British leader Gordon Brown on Tuesday called for a new humanitarian alliance to help meet key world poverty reduction targets, evoking a 'coalition for justice' in the spirit of the US Peace Corps.

In an address to the United Nations in New York, Brown said change was needed to help fulfil the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), progress on which is behind schedule eight years before they are due to be completed.

MANILA, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo is expected to focus on security, unity and the economy when she makes her state of the nation address later Monday, aides said.

More than 3,000 police have been deployed across Manila to seal off roads leading to the House of Representatives, where Arroyo was to speak at 4:00 pm (0800 GMT).

Left-wing groups gathered overnight near the venue, where they plan to stage rallies against Arroyo's record on human rights abuses, forced disappearances and political killings.

MANILA, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo is expected to focus on security, unity and the economy when she makes her state of the nation address later Monday, aides said.

More than 3,000 police have been deployed across Manila to seal off roads leading to the House of Representatives, where Arroyo was to speak at 4:00 pm (0800 GMT).

Left-wing groups gathered overnight near the venue, where they plan to stage rallies against Arroyo's record on human rights abuses, forced disappearances and political killings.