Prime Minister Tony Blair once again reiterated that he will not be quitting the post after it emerged that he was once again questioned by the police officials in the cash-for-honors scandal.

Stating that he hoped the investigation will end soon, Blair said that it was morally wrong for him to resign from his post at least before the police officials complete the investigation into the scandal that has rocked the Labour government since last year.

French president Jacques Chirac has said that his comments about a nuclear Iran were "oversimplified" and in no way does he support the nuclear programme of the Islamic Republic.

The denial comes in the back of comments made by Chirac in an interview given to American newspaper New York Times, International Herald Tribune and the French magazine the Nouvel Observateur. In the interview, Chirac stated that the situation will not be dangerous even if Tehran manages to build one or two nuclear bombs. The main danger, according to Chirac, will be if Iran indulges in nuclear proliferation.

The United Nations envoy to Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari has proposed that Kosovo should be "separated" from Serbia and allow it to use its own national symbols, stopping short of suggesting giving independence to the troubled Balkan city.

Ahtisaari is currently in Belgrade to discuss the plan of action to be taken. Kosovo has been under the UN administration since 1999, when the NATO troops forced Serbia to withdraw from the city. Talks have been held since then to determine Kosovo's status, but both sides have failed to reach any agreement.

The truce between the Fatah and Hamas factions appears to have well and truly collapsed after fresh fighting claimed at least 20 lives in the region.

However a Hamas spokesman assured that a fresh truce would be hammered out by Friday even as Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia next week.