* Aides: PM mulling talks with Arab League working group on Saudi peace plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is considering entering U.S.-backed talks with an Arab League working group that could try to negotiate a sweeping land-for-peace accord, officials said Friday.

* “We’re the original owners of this land” Balad chairman Azmi Bishara attacked the state of Israel, saying that “it was unable to rise to the challenge he posed to its Jewish nature and to Zionism.”

* Putin opponents step up pressure Opponents of the Russian president are to take to the streets of Moscow to protest against what they say is the trampling of democratic freedoms.

* Hebron settlers try to buy more homes Settlers have plans to purchase additional homes in Hebron to expand the size and property holdings of the Jewish community in the city.

* Net reaches out to final frontier A programme to kick-start the use of internet communications in space has been announced by the US government.

* Islamic State of Iraq claims parliament suicide bombing The Islamic State of Iraq, an insurgent umbrella group which includes al-Qaida in Iraq, claimed Friday one of its “knights” carried out the parliament suicide bombing in Baghdad’s Green Zone, and the US military revised the death toll sharply downward to one dead.

* Euro hits new two-year high against dollar The euro rose to 1.3534 dollars on Friday in early European trading, reaching the highest level since January 3, 2005 on expectations of rising eurozone interest rates.

* PA official calls Israeli gov’t ‘weak’ Israel’s refusal to discuss a final status agreement with the Palestinian Authority proves the Palestinians have no partner for negotiations, PA Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said.

* Ethiopia in Somali “genocide” row A member of Somalia’s transitional government has accused Ethiopian troops in the capital Mogadishu of committing genocide since arriving in December.

* EU official sees hope for ME peace There is “new momentum” in the Middle East peace process, a high-ranking European Union official said after meeting the UN secretary-general.