SHORTTAKES

Russian arms dealer appeals Thai detention

THAILAND: Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout filed an appeal Monday against his detention in Thailand, ahead of extradition hearings that could send him to the United States to face terrorism charges.

Thailand's criminal court must decide whether there is enough evidence to extradite the man dubbed the "Merchant of Death" to the United States, where he could face life in prison.

Bout did not speak to reporters Monday as he entered the courtroom in shackles and an orange prison-issue outfit. He was arrested in Bangkok in March after a sting operation headed by US agents.

"I have submitted the petition that Viktor Bout has been detained illegally," his Thai lawyer Preecha Prasertsak told reporters, adding that the judge would rule on the petition before opening the extradition hearings.

Those hearings were meant to begin in late July but were postponed.

Preecha did not say on what grounds they were contesting his detention.

During an undercover operation, Bout allegedly agreed to supply surface-to-air missiles to US anti-drug agents posing as rebels from Colombia's Marxist FARC group, which Washington considers a terrorist organisation.

Bangkok, Monday, AFP

French Parliament to vote on troops in Afghanistan

FRANCE: French lawmakers are to vote Monday on whether to keep French troops in Afghanistan after 10 soldiers were killed there, raising questions about France's presence in the increasingly violent country.

Both houses of parliament, dominated by President Nicolas Sarkozy's party, are expected to support maintaining the 2,600-strong contingent, one of the largest serving in NATO's Afghanistan mission.

But a stormy debate was in store after Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper quoted a "secret" NATO report at the weekend saying Taliban fighters who ambushed the French soldiers on August 18 were better armed than their enemy.

NATO and the French general staff denied that such a report existed.

The mountain ambush east of Kabul was the deadliest ground attack on international troops since they were sent to Afghanistan in 2001 to oust the hardline Taliban regime.

According to the Globe and Mail, the 30 French paratroopers ran out of bullets and did not have proper communication equipment, forcing them to stop fighting after 90 minutes.

The soldiers had only one radio, which was quickly knocked out, leaving them unable to call for air support while Taliban fighters used incendiary bullets that punched holes in armored vehicles, according to the report.

Paris, Monday, AFP

Americans concerned about loss of world standing: poll

US: Foreign policy could play a big role in November's presidential election according to a new poll that suggests 83 percent of Americans are most concerned about improving the nation's standing in the world.

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll also showed majority support for Washington to take a new tack in foreign policy by talking to enemies like the leaders of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar (Burma), Hamas and Hezbollah.

Such a stand appeared closer to that of Democratic candidate Barack Obama than that of his Republican rival John McCain.

Bipartisan concern about America's standing in the world topped the list of 14 goals presented in the survey to be officially released on Monday, even higher than protecting the jobs of US workers (80 percent).

The survey was conducted in July, before the collapse of investment giant Lehman Brothers, the unprecedented government rescue of insurer American International Group and the seizure of mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sparked market panic.

Eighty-three percent of Americans - including 81 percent of Republicans and 88 percent of Democrats - think that improving their nation's standing internationally should be a "very important" foreign policy goal, the poll said.

Washington, Monday, AFP

Peres holds party talks for new Government

ISRAEL: Israeli President Shimon Peres met more parliamentary faction leaders on Monday to discuss the formation of a new coalition government, a day after the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Olmert, who could face criminal indictment in corruption probes, submitted his resignation to Peres on Sunday, four days after he was replaced by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as leader of the ruling Kadima party in an internal election. Since Olmert's resignation, Peres has met representatives of the four largest parties - Kadima, Labour, Likud and Shas - and will hold talks with the remaining nine factions on Monday.

Israeli media reported Peres would most likely nominate a party leader to form the next government on Monday and indicated that Livni was his top choice.

"(Peres) is meeting with many factions today, and something might change, so I can't say for sure he will choose Tzipi Livni, but that's how it's looking," Peres spokeswoman Ayelet Frish told Army Radio.

Jerusalem, Monday, Reuters