Lebanon factions OK unity government

BEIRUT -- Lebanon's Syrian-backed factions finally agreed on a unity government proposed by their pro-Western rivals on Saturday, ending a four-month deadlock in the deeply divided country.

The announcement by the opposition coalition dominated by the militant Hezbollah group came after a meeting late Friday night between the groups' leaders including Hassan Nasrallah. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was informed the next day.

The agreement would end a political deadlock that has threatened to send the fragile nation spiraling back into violence.

Madagascar rivals reach political deal

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Madagascar's political rivals have agreed on posts within a transitional government that will hold power until next year's elections following a power struggle that brought months of volatility to the country, an African Union statement said.

The deal announced late Friday allows Andry Rajoelina to remain head of state. However, he now will be joined by two co-presidents representing other political factions on the Indian Ocean island off the southeast coast of Africa.

According to the AU statement released after several days of mediated talks in Ethiopia, Rajoelina now will be joined in the transitional government by a co-president who is allied to Ravalomanana and one affiliated with former President Albert Zafy.

Medvedev: Pact on arms control possible

MOSCOW -- Russia and the United States have a good chance of reaching a new nuclear arms reduction deal before year's end, but other nuclear powers must join disarmament efforts, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in remarks released Saturday.

Medvedev also told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine he has been working well with his predecessor Vladimir Putin, and predictions of a rift between him and Putin -- widely seen as pulling the strings in Russia -- are overblown.

The U.S.-Russian arms control talks are moving at a good pace, Medvedev said.

Rebel stronghold bombarded in Yemen

SAN'A, Yemen -- Saudi warplanes and artillery bombarded a Shiite rebel stronghold in northern Yemen Saturday for a third straight day, according to the rebel fighters, and Yemen's president vowed to wipe out the insurrection.

The sporadic five-year conflict between Yemen's weak central government and rebels in the north of the impoverished country escalated dramatically this week when Saudi military forces began shelling and bombing rebel positions.

The two nations are cooperating and sharing intelligence in the fight. Officials in neighboring Saudi Arabia have been increasingly worried that extremism and instability in Yemen could spill over to their country.

Official: Flu fears won't bar pilgrims

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi health minister said Saturday that the kingdom will not bar anyone considered high-risk for H1N1 flu from performing the hajj pilgrimage this year, though he urged countries where pilgrims set out from to take precautions.

The hajj, required of all able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, has become a concern for world health officials because the density of pilgrims -- with shoulder-to-shoulder contact as they pray -- has raised fears of a massive spread of H1N1 flu.

The pilgrimage begins this year on Nov. 25.