restate

d his position as the US Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrived in the region. Wyre Davies reports from Jerusalem.

In a television interview shortly after Mr Mitchell

touched down

, Israel's prime minister said there would be no freeze in the construction of new Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, an area

annex

ed by Israel since 1967 and regarded as occupied territory under international law.

But Washington has made it clear that it's hoping for significant confidence-building measures from the Netanyahu government to try and help kick-start peace negotiations.

The government in Pakistan has announced a new energy-saving policy to combat acute power shortages which the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said were now a matter of national security. The measures include a five-day working week, the closing of shops at dusk, shorter wedding ceremonies and no

decorative

lights on billboards. The BBC correspondent says the energy crisis has

contributed to

political

instability

. It has severely disrupted industrial productivity while

persistent

power cuts of up to 16 hours have resulted in rioting.

At least five grenade explosions have ripped through central Bangkok, killing three people and injuring dozens. The blasts happened close to where armed troops are pitted against anti-government red-shirt protesters. The Thai government says the grenades were fired from the red-shirts' encampment, but the protesters have denied any involvement. A group of rival demonstrators has also rallied in the area, creating what correspondents say is a