Saudi scholars support Iraq's resistance

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Prominent Saudi religious scholars urged Iraqis to support militants waging holy war against the U.S.-led coalition forces as American troops prepared Saturday for a major assault on the insurgent hotbed of Fallujah. The 26 Saudi scholars and preachers said in an open letter to the Iraqi people that their appeal was prompted by "the extraordinary situation through which the Iraqis are passing which calls for unity and exchange of views." The letter was posted on the Internet. Sheik Awad al-Qarni, one of the scholars, told Al-Arabiya TV, "The U.S. forces are still destroying towns on the heads of their people and killing women and children. What's going on in Iraq is a result of the big crime of America's occupation of Iraq."

Fox hunters open season that may be Britain's last

LONDON -- Tens of thousands of hunters and their hounds raced through the countryside on horseback Saturday, opening a fox-hunting season that could be one of Britain's last. The more than 300 hunts had a defiant air, with participants still angry over the government's plans to ban hunting with hounds. The House of Commons voted two months ago to outlaw the sport. The House of Lords refuses to endorse the bill, but the government has threatened to force it into law anyway by next year. Fox hunting supporters were undaunted. "We are just as determined to be here next November and the November after that as we ever have been," said Darren Hughes, a spokesman for the pro-hunt group Countryside Alliance.

Sudan refuses no-fly zone for Darfur

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Sudan's government said on Saturday it would not budge from its rejection of a no-fly zone for its bloodied Darfur region, undermining a hoped-for accord after months of African Union-sponsored peace talks. Majzoub Khalifa, leader of the Sudanese government delegation, said he had insisted mediators scrap the latest draft plan and its no-fly zone provision and revert to a plan that did not include a ban on military flights. The current draft calls for "an effective cease-fire on land and air, in particular: refraining from all hostilities and military actions." Since the talks began two weeks ago, rebels have repeatedly accused Sudan's Arab-dominated government of using military aircraft to bomb black African villages in coordination with ground attacks by pro-government Arab militia.

Afghan militants delay U.N. hostage talks

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Militants threatening to kill three U.N. hostages said Saturday that talks with Afghan and U.N. officials had been postponed for another day. President-elect Hamid Karzai renewed his condemnation of the abduction and received a promise from his visiting Pakistani counterpart of closer cooperation in combating terrorism. Authorities have not confirmed any contact with Jaish-al Muslimeen, a Taliban splinter group demanding a U.N. pullout from Afghanistan and the release of Taliban prisoners.

-- From wire reports