TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's interim rulers spurned a demand from the Organisation of American States on Friday to restore leftist President Manuel Zelaya to power, deepening Central America's worst political crisis in decades.

NAYPYIDAW (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to hold an unexpected second meeting with Myanmar's junta leader as he presses the regime to free the pro-democracy leader and allow him to see her.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Organization of American States tried to convince Honduras on Friday to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya, but it hit a wall as the country's Supreme Court warned the leftist would be arrested if he came home.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin , the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate in 2008, said on Friday she will resign this month, an unexpected move that could signal a run for higher office.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Organisation of American States tried to convince Honduras on Friday to restore toppled President Manuel Zelaya or suffer a diplomatic sanction from the Western Hemisphere.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has rejected criticism from US President Barack Obama that his thinking is still influenced by Cold War attitudes.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States and its Western allies are sounding out Arab governments to see if they might ease sanctions on Israel if it stopped building Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory, diplomats said on Friday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Obama administration is planning to use the National Security Agency to screen Internet traffic between government agencies and the private sector, the Washington Post reported Friday.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr paraded through a Baghdad slum on Friday, burning American flags and shouting anti-U.S. slogans during a visit to Iraq by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A fiery protest marked the start on Friday of US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Iraq , with supporters of the Shiite anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr burning the Stars and Stripes.

A protest marked the start of US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Iraq , with supporters of anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr burning the Stars and Stripes.

LONDON (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued an informal invitation to President Barack Obama to visit Damascus for talks, in a sign that relations between the two countries may gradually be thawing.

NAYPYIDAW (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon met the reclusive head of Myanmar's military junta on Friday for what he said would be "tough talks" aimed at securing the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi .

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he is willing to meet US President Barack Obama in Syria to discuss Middle East peace efforts.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has spoken to the reclusive head of Burma's military junta in his attempt to secure the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi .

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - A caretaker government in Honduras said on Thursday it was open to holding early elections to resolve the impasse over ousted President Manuel Zelaya, as the Organisation of American States readied a mission to Honduras to push for his reinstatement.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - A caretaker government in Honduras said on Thursday it was open to holding early elections to resolve the impasse over ousted President Manuel Zelaya, as the Organization of American States readied a mission to Honduras to push for his reinstatement.

United States President Barack Obama says it is going to be a long road to recovery on the back of dire unemployment figures.