The Chinese President Hu Jintao says China has no interest in pursuing an arms race, nor exerting military dominance over other nations. Speaking at a business forum in Washington, Mr Hu said there was no need for the US to see China as a threat. Paul Adams reports.
President Hu used his lunch-time speech to drive home his message that America should not see China as a dangerous rival. "We do not engage in arms races," he said. "We are not a military threat to any country." He described Tibet and Taiwan as core Chinese interests but did not add the South China Sea to this list, suggesting a degree of flexibility on an issue that has been a recent source of tension. Earlier, President Hu swapped the military bands and state banquet at the White House for the rather more combative atmosphere of Capitol Hill. Members of Congress raised a number of familiar concerns, including human rights, efforts to contain North Korea, safeguarding intellectual property and the need for a level playing field in international trade.
Tunisia's new interim government says it'll recognise all banned political groups and grant amnesties to all political prisoners. A government spokesman said all groups would be recognised including the Islamist Ennahda movement. The announcement came as the new cabinet met for the first time a week after street protest[s] forced President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee Tunisia.
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The Vatican says it's worried about the latest scandal surrounding the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and demanded higher moral standards from politicians. The secretary of state of the Holy See made his comments after being asked about allegations that Mr Berlusconi had organised sex parties with young prostitutes. He said Italy was in turmoil over the issue. The prime minister has vehemently denied the allegations.