* ‘Time running out for Iran strike’ Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, former head of Military Intelligence’s Research Division, said that time to launch an effective military strike against Iran’s nuclear installations was running out.

* Iraq fears Turkey troop build-up Iraq says Turkey has 140,000 soldiers along its border, prompting fears of an incursion against Kurdish guerrillas.

* ‘Hamas army’ established in Gaza, intelligence source says Hamas’ military industry is giving serial production numbers to the roadside charges and Qassam rockets it manufactures.

* US Iraq chief warns of long war The head of US forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus, has told the BBC that fighting the insurgency is a “long term endeavour” which could take decades.

* Ten EU FMs tell Blair road map is dead, call for int’l conference A group of 10 EU foreign ministers has called for an international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling the road map peace plan dead.

* World will face oil crunch ‘in five years’ The world is facing an oil supply “crunch” within five years that will force up prices to record levels and increase the west’s dependence on oil cartel Opec.

* ‘New rules for new wars’ The Geneva Convention on armed conflict and the 100 year-old Hague Rules on war need to be “fine tuned” to meet the challenges posed by 21st century asymmetrical warfare.

* Syria rejects offer to hold peace talks Damascus has rejected Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s offer to hold peace talks with President Bashar Assad.

* Jumblatt: Syria trying to destabilize Lebanon Widespread media reports of Syria warning its nationals to flee Lebanon ahead of a major outbreak of violence and civil war there are “unfounded,” contended Lebanon’s Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt.

* Hamas denies Abbas charges it is letting Al-Qaida enter Gaza Hamas officials Tuesday hotly denied allegations by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.