* Hanegbi: Israel and Syria don’t have an interest in conflict “Israel and Syria don’t have an interest in conflict, and the United States, along with Arab countries, are making sure not to cause unnecessary tension.”

* ‘Embrace Islam’ Bin Laden urges A new video tape purportedly made by al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has urged the American people to embrace Islam in order to stop the war in Iraq.

* Syrian paper slams US-Israel cooperation A Syrian government newspaper accused the US on Saturday of encouraging Israel’s reported violation of Syrian airspace by remaining silent on the issue.

* Arab League says pullout condition for negotiations Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa has demanded the evacuation of settlements as a condition to the continuation of peace negotiations.

* ‘Israel and occupation will disappear’ “Like the Israeli terror was leashed on Syria two days ago, it will reach each and every Muslim country if we remain in this situation.”

* Putin, Bush fail to ease missile defense tension US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin failed to make clear progress in talks Friday to defuse tensions over US missile defense plans that have angered Moscow.

* Sources: Petraeus wants no troop cuts until spring The top U.S. commander in Iraq will recommend to President Bush that current U.S. troop levels be maintained in Iraq through next spring.

* Fast-track treaty talks start in Portugal The first test of whether the fast-track timetable for the new EU treaty has a chance of succeeding will took place (7 September).

* Oil price tests an all-time high The price of oil has risen close to a record level, putting more pressure on Opec to give a positive signal about production levels at its meeting in Vienna next week.

* Syrian president denies working against stability in Iraq Syria’s president has denied in an interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric that his government is allowing terrorists entry into Iraq.