Alleged al-Zarqawi tape criticizes Muslim scholars

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An audiotape attributed to Iraq's most feared terrorist lashed out Wednesday at Sunni Muslim clerics for not speaking out against U.S. attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. and Iraqi officials said they would press their offensive against insurgents following the fall of Fallujah. In the tape posted Wednesday on an Islamic Web site, Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi condemned the "silence" of Muslim religious figures, saying they have "let us down in the darkest circumstances."

Premiers push for deal on Northern Ireland

LONDON -- The British and Irish prime ministers made a new push Wednesday to secure a power-sharing deal between the two largest and most hard-line parties in Northern Ireland and declared a decision must be made within days. As he moved between separate meetings with Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, the Rev. Ian Paisley -- whose Democratic Unionist Party represents the British Protestant majority -- said he didn't expect a deal this week with the Irish Catholic party, Sinn Fein.

Bomb kills two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A bomb ripped through a U.S. patrol in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing two American soldiers and wounding another, a reminder of the country's insecurity after a newly resolved hostage drama. The troops were attacked near the town of Deh Rawood, 250 miles southwest of Kabul, in Uruzgan province, where the military has clashed repeatedly with Taliban militants.

Palestinian-Canadian had N. America attack plans

JERUSALEM -- A Gaza-born Canadian citizen pleaded guilty Wednesday to planning attacks on Israelis in North America and was sentenced by a military court to four years in prison, the Israeli army said. Jamal Akkal, 24, was arrested in Gaza on Nov. 1, 2003, and charged by the military with conspiring to commit manslaughter. Prosecutors said Akkal planned to attack Israeli officials traveling in the United States as well as stage bombings at Jewish targets in North America.

Pakistan wants peace with India, premier says

NEW DELHI -- Insisting it was time for peace between Pakistan and India, Pakistan's prime minister said Wednesday that the two nuclear-armed rivals had the chance for peace. "If India takes a step forward, Pakistan will respond by two," Shaukat Aziz said in a speech to Indian business leaders after meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

-- From wire reports