LONDON, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - Oxfam said on Monday that it welcomed news that the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet backed bilateral talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as an upcoming US-sponsored peace conference.

The charity called, however, for the Quartet to take 'urgent action' to end the economic blockade of the Palestinian territories, noting that unless the lives of ordinary people in the region improved, there was 'little chance of peace.'

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - The Middle East diplomatic Quartet on Sunday backed ongoing bilateral talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas as well as an upcoming US-sponsored peace conference.

In a joint statement issued after a two-hour meeting here, the four sponsors of the Middle East peace process expressed 'strong support' for the Olmert-Abbas talks and also backed the Israeli-Palestinian peace conference which Washington hopes to host in November.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Participants at a UN-sponsored high-level meeting here Friday urged all Darfur rebels to attend crucial peace talks scheduled in Libya next month to end civil strife in Sudan's western Darfur region.

'Participants confirmed their support for the (Libya) talks and expressed strong expectations that the negotiations would be inclusive and decisive, stressing that the parties should seize this unique opportunity to resolve the conflict,' said a joint communique issued at the end of the one-day meeting.

SYDNEY, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) - Asia Pacific leaders issued an urgent appeal Sunday for countries involved in deadlocked global trade talks to 'get serious' in their efforts to break down barriers to international commerce.

After a summit in Sydney, they said priority must be given to securing an agreement on agriculture and industrial products within the so-called Doha round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.

SYDNEY, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) - Asia Pacific leaders issued an 'urgent' plea Sunday for all countries involved in deadlocked global trade talks to step up efforts on breaking down barriers to global commerce.

After a summit in Sydney, they said priority must be given to securing an agreement on agriculture and industrial products within the so-called Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks.

SYDNEY, Sept 8, 2007 (AFP) - Asia Pacific leaders signed a climate change agreement Saturday that calls for long-term action to curb greenhouse gases, setting 'aspirational' goals but no firm commitments.

Unveiling the statement at a Sydney summit, Australian Prime Minister John Howard called it 'a very important milestone towards a sensible international agreement' bringing in both rich and poor nations.

SEOUL, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) - South and North Korea announced Wednesday they will hold a summit from August 28-30 in Pyongyang, only the second in their history.

Here are extracts from the South Korean presidential statement:

'The two Koreas have agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang August 28-30...

'The second inter-Korean summit is expected to contribute to peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula. The talks will also provide momentum to settle the North Korean nuclear problem...