1, 251 US soldiers died in Iraq

File photo taken on Sep.13, 2004 shows a US soldier stands in the tank in Baghdad, capital of Iraq. At least 134 U.S. troops died in November, which is approaching the highest for any month of the war. The U.S. official death toll for Iraq, dating to the start of the war, stood at 1,251 on Monday.

5th General Assembly of the Association of Aisan Parliaments for Peace opens

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (R) and Pakistani Congress Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain (L) answer reporters' questions after attending the opening ceremony of the 5th General Assembly of the Association of Aisan Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad Nov.30, 2004. AAPP, founded in Dhaka of Bangladesh in 1999 aims to promote regional dialogues and peace progress.

Nation launches anti-AIDS campaign

College students sign their names on a huge banner to express their AIDS-prevention awareness in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Nov. 30, 2004. Diversified activities are under way across China to publicize AIDS-prevention knowledge before the World AIDS Day that falls on Wednesday.

ASEAN-Australia and New Zealand Commemorative Summit

Australian Prime Minister John Howard (L5) and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark (R6) take a group photo with leaders of 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during ASEAN-Australia and New Zealand Commemorative Summit in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Nov. 30, 2004.

Muslim scholars to boycott Iraqi election

Harith Al Dhary, who is in charge of Association of Muslim Scholars , a powerful Sunni Muslim political group in Iraq, condemns Iraqi interim government for assassinating members of the association and declares to boycott the elections at a press conference held in Baghdad Nov.30, 2004. A total of 20 members of the association were killed, and 80 arrested this year.

Protest continues in Kiev

Supporters of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko rally in front of the Supreme Council of Ukraine (parliament) to demand the dissolution of the government in Kiev, Ukraine, Nov. 30, 2004. The Supreme Council of Ukraine convened a special session on Tuesday to discuss the social and economic problems facing the nation as well as threats confronting the territorial integrity.

Plane crash in Indonesia kills 31

The death toll in the plane crash in central Indonesia on Tuesday has risen to 31, with dozens more injured. The Lion Air plane which skidded off a rain-slicked runway around 6:14 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) at Adisumarno airport in the town of Solo, a tourist town in Central Java province. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

President Hu Jintao shakes hands with AIDS patient

Chinese President Hu Jintao(2nd, L) has cordial handshakes with AIDS patients in a Beijing hospital inspiring them with "perseverance in medical treatment and increased confidence for an early recovery" Nov. 30, 2004.

Chinese Ethnic Costume displayed in Rome

A Chinese model displays traditional costumes of a Chinese ethnic group in a Chinese Ethnic Costume Tour Display held in Rome Nov. 29, 2004.

Albanians celebrate 60th liberation anniversary

Albanian soldiers march along the "Martyrs of the Nation" boulevard during the military parade in Tirana, capital of Albania on Nov. 29, 2004. Albania held Monday a military parade in Tirana to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its liberation from the nazi-fascists.

Spanish PM meets Chinese Vice Premier

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (R) meets with visiting Chinese vice-premier Zeng Peiyan (L) in Madrid, capital of Spain, on Nov. 29, 2004.

CPPCC Chairman meets Slovenian guest

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Janez Susnik, chairman of the National Council of the Slovenian assembly at The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov.30, 2004.

B&Q China to acquire stores of Pricesmart in China

The British retailer Kingfisher announced last week that B&Q China, a subsidiary of Kingfisher will acquire five membership supermarket of the Pricesmart in China by 6.95 million pounds (approximately 105 million yuan). The B&Q plans to turn the supermarkets to supermarket of building materials in 2005.

Top legislator meets speaker of the Lesotho's National Assembly

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, meets with Ntlhoi Motsamai (L), speaker of the Lesotho's National Assembly at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 30, 2004. Motsamai pays an official goodwill visit to China from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 as guest of Wu Bangguo.

Protests mark Bush's visit to Canada

Protesters chant slogans outside the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004. More than 500 people took part in the lunch time demonstration against U.S. President George Bush's visit to Canada.(AP PHOTO)