Clash in Iraq

A US helicopter hovers over a smoke stack during an ongoing battle between US and Iraqi armed forces at Haifa Street in central Baghdad, Iraq, July 7, 2004. Street clashes broke out in central Baghdad on Wednesday as insurgents opened fire with their assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at US troops and Iraqi security forces here on Wednesday, as Iraq's interim government announced later a new security law that gives it more powers to help contain spiraling insurgency in the country.

Blair: WMD may never be found in Iraq

British Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted that alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD) possessed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein "may never befound" in Iraq.

Mudflow in Yunnan

Local farmers try to remove a trunk at the site of a field damaged by mudslide in Yingjiang country, southwest China's Yunnan Province July 7, 2004. At least 14 people have been killed by mudflow brought by floods in Dehong Prefecture of Yunnan since the rainstorms hit several counties and cities on July 4. The calamity has left 36 people missing and 2,026 houses collapsed.

China Open to be held in September

Tmblem of China Open meets the public at a press conference in Beijing on July 7. It has been set that Maria Sharapovad from Russia, champion of Wimbledon 2004, American Serena Williams, Jelena Dokic of Serbia & Montenegro and Chinese Zheng Jie will take part in the tennis games in Beijing in September.

Kidnapping in Changchun

A man with a knife threatens to kill a woman driver in the red Volkswagen Bora, at Xinwenhua Street in Changchun, provincial capital of Northeast China's Jilin, July 7, 2004. A taxi driver reported to police Wednesday morning that the woman driver in the car was kidnapped by a man. After 3 hours of negotiations failed, police shot the 25-year-old kidnapper on the spot. The hostage died later on in hospital. No information was available on how she was injured. The reason for the kidnapping is still unknown. (Xinhua photo)

10th anniversary of death of Kim Il Sung

Children leave Mansudae after paying homage to the statue of late DPRK leader Kim Il Sung in central Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) July 7, 2004. Pyongyang citizens paid their respect to the statue in the rain on Wednesday, one day before the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Il Sung. (Xinhua Photo)

Enjoy the pleasure of science

A boy and his mother are carefully watching water sample from the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Huaihe River at the Beijing Science and Technology Museum on July 7th. A lot of parents are taking their childeren to visit the museum to enjoy the pleasure brought by science.

Iraq group threatens to kill Filipino

An Iraqi group claims it has taken a Filipino working for US-led forces hostage and threatens to kill him if the Philippines did not withdraw its forces from Iraq within 72 hours. (Aljazeera.net)

New security law released in Iraq

Iraqi Minister of Justice Malik Dohan al-Hassan delivers a speech during a press conference in Baghdad July 7, 2004. Iraq's interim government announced Wednesday a new security law that gives it more powers to help contain spiraling insurgency in the country, including the authority to declare state of emergency, curfews and demand for multinational forces.

Representative to the World Heritage Committee at Suzhou

A representative to the 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee videorecords a miniascape at Zhuozheng Garden in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province July 7, 2004. The representatives also paid visits to places of interest in Suzhou on Wednesday.

67th anniversary of the July 7 Lugou Bridge Incident

A visitor contemplates at the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression near the Lugou Bridge, southwest of Beijing proper July 7, 2004. People around China have held various activities to mark the 67th anniversary of the July 7 Lugou Bridge Incident on Wednesday.

Lycium Chinensis harvest

A villager dries the Lycium Chinensis in the air in Zhongning County in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region July 6, 2004. Thanks to good weather in Ningxia, over 20,000 hectares of Lycium Chinensis had a good harvest.

Athens torch relayed through Istanbul

Asligul Atasagun (R) and Sagturk Tan carry the Olympic Flame in front of the Kadikov Municipal Building during the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay in Istanbul, Turkey, July 6, 2004. The Olympic Flame travels to 34 cities in 27 countries en route to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

President Hu meets Kuwaiti PM

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets the visiting Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Capital of China, July 7, 2004.

28th Session of the World Heritage Committee concludes

The 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee finally closed here Wednesday, with two important documents namely "Suzhou Decision" and "Suzhou Declaration" adopted. (Xinhuua photo)