>>Uganda - Two days after reported progress in peace talks, the Lord's Resistance Army has walked out of negotiations because the government balked at demands for cash and cabinet positions. The BBC reports on how the violence in Kenya has disrupted the food aid route from Mombasa to Kampala. The WFP has strategic reserves, but those are dwindling.

>>Missile Defense - In a predictable follow-up to yesterday's missile strike on a failing satellite, U.S. Secretary of Defense has said that the action proved that the controversial U.S. missle defense system works.

>>Pakistan - The Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N, long-time rivals, have agreed to form a coalition government, after together claiming a majority of seats in parliamentary elections on Monday. Analysts speculate that the first acts of the new government may be to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudry as chief justice and call for a UN investigation into Bhutto's assassination. The PPP will meet to pick the next Prime Minister. Party leader and Bhutto widower, Asif Ali Zardari is not eligible.

>>Iraq - Moqtada al-Sadr has agreed to extend his ceasefire, widely thought to have reduced violence in Iraq by more than half, another six months.

>>Iran - Britain and France have formally submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking another round of sanctions against Iran. They hope for passage next week. The U.S. had hoped for earlier adoption of the resolution, but several Member States pressed to wait until after the IAEA's latest report is released today.

• Liberian President raises a glass to Bush and the U.S. - by John Boonstra
• A timely launch for Samantha Power's new book - by John Boonstra
• More on the Eritrean Peacekeeping Crisis - by Mark Leon Goldberg

Posted by Matthew Cordell at 7:47 AM