Nouakchott, Mauritan

Beirut -  French President Nicolas Sarkozy, due to arrive in Beirut on Tuesday, promised to exert more effort to resolve lingering issues between Lebanon and neighbouring Syria.

"Lebanon and Syria are now cooperating to restore relations based on trust and mutual respect," Sarkozy was quoted by Lebanese televisions on Monday.

"I am not naive and I realize that there are still several stages that need to be crossed," he said.

Gaza - Fierce clashes erupted Monday night in eastern and northern Gaza City between Palestinian militants and Israel soldiers, witnesses said.

Witnesses said they heard heavy and intensive tank shelling in the Tufah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, and added that Israeli troops and militants were also engaged in gun battles.

Gaza resident Mohamed al-Aklouk said dozens of tanks shells were fired at eastern and northern Gaza City within less than 30 minutes, and several houses were destroyed in the area.

Los Angeles - Waltz With Bashir, the animated documentary of an Israeli soldier's war trauma, has been named the best film of 2008 by the National Society of Film Critics, according to Variety on Monday.

The autobiographical film by Israeli director Ari Folman portrays the harrowing consequences of Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982.

New York  - Arab governments on Monday called on the UN Security Council to order an end to hostilities in Gaza Strip, hoping that the group would overcome opposition by the United States for such a move.

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Arab foreign ministers attending meetings at UN headquarters in New York planned to submit a new draft resolution and ask the 15-nation council to adopt it on Tuesday.

Al-Malki said the Arab ministers were working through a "proper channel" to convince Washington to support the text.

Amman  - Jordan's Queen Rania on Monday issued an impassioned appeal to the world community to move promptly to force Israel to halt its offensive on the Gaza Strip for humanitarian reasons.