Baghdad - Car bombs killed 12 people in Baghdad on Monday as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in the Iraqi capital on the eve of a change in command of the US-led forces.

Some 32 people were injured in the twin blasts, which occured near a family law court in the downtown area of al-Karada.

They happened as US General David Petraeus was spending his last day in Iraq as commander of the Multi-Lateral Iraq force.

Washington  - There is no prospect the United States will use military force to resolve the ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.

"The United States spent 45 years working very hard to avoid a military confrontation with Russia," Gates said, referring to the Cold War. "I see no reason to change that approach today."

Washington, June 28

Washington - US Defence Secreta

Singapore  -