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I'm Carmen English from the VOA News Center in Washington.

President Bush says a new video message from Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden shows the need for all nations to work together against terrorism. Mr. Bush who rarely responds to Al Qaida videos said bin Laden's message denouncing democracy and development of the global economy is a reminder of the dangerous world in which we live. Speaking today in Sydney before the start of the Asia-Pacific Summit, Mr. Bush noted that bin Laden mentioned Iraq and the president called it an indication that the terrorist network is fighting to establish a safe haven for its members there. President Bush is among 21 leaders who have begun their annual two-day summit. This year's meeting is in Sydney Australia. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins is there.

Thousands of protestors gathered in Sydney Saturday at the start of the two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Security was tight as thousands marched peacefully along an approved route to voice their disapproval over the APEC summit, US President George Bush, the Iraq War and a host of other issues. APEC leaders are expected to sign a landmark climate statement that glosses over differences between rich and poor nations over pollution emission targets. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says participants approved the decision to make climate change a key focus of the summit. "And ministers have welcomed the decision to make climate change a key focus for the leaders' discussion. " The climate change statement is expected to be signed before US President Bush heads back to Washington. Nancy-Amelia Collins, VOA News, Sydney, Australia.

Local security forces in Algeria say at least ten people were killed today in a car bomb attack on a barrack in the east coast town of Dellys. Authorities said several other people were wounded. The attack occurred two days after 15 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in a suicide bombing in the eastern town of Batna, shortly before a scheduled visit by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Witnesses said the bomber was among a crowd of people waiting to see the president. Mr. Bouteflika condemned those who carried out the attack as "criminals, " and said Algeria is committed to achieving national reconciliation.

The United Nations chief nuclear inspector has urged countries concerned about Iran's nuclear program to give his agency time to resolve questions about Teheran's activities. Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters in Vienna that a plan worked out between Iran and his agency could help resolve the Iranian nuclear standoff. ElBaradei warned against rhetoric about military attacks against Iran.

A senior US military officer is disputing reports in two major US newspapers which said Friday that the US commander in Iraq may be willing to send several thousand of its troops home by January. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

The officer who spoke on condition of anonymity says the US commander in Iraq General David Petraeus told him the stories in the New York Times and the Washington Post are not accurate. General Petraeus and the US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are to give their highly-anticipated progress reports to the Congress on Monday, including recommendations on future US troop levels. President Bush is expected to announce his decisions based on those reports, perhaps later in the week. Amid the stir over Friday's newspaper stories, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman offered reporters this advice: "We should all not try to predict what the general is going to say. " A senior defense official also noted that the articles say General Petraeus could accept or is willing to consider the start of a drawdown of U. S. forces early next year. The official said it is not up to the general to accept or consider. Rather, the official said, the general will make his recommendations to President Bush, and the president will decide the future course of US policy toward Iraq, including troop levels. Al Pessin, VOA News, at the Pentagon.

A defense lawyer in Burma says 6 labor activists have been sentenced to up to 28 years in prison for organizing a seminar at US embassy center in Rangoon earlier this year. The lawyer said all 6 were found guilty of sedition.

Those are the top stories. I'm Carmen English, VOA News.

Vocabulary

gloss over: 1,treat hurriedly or avoid dealing with properly; 2,cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error 给以光滑的表面,掩饰
eg, Don't gloss over your faults. 别掩饰自己的缺点。
barrack: a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel n. 兵舍,军营
anonymity: the state of being anonymous n. 匿名,笔者不明
stir over: 对于…骚动
sedition: an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government n. 煽动骚乱,妨害治安