* Bush issues rally call for summit US President George W Bush has said “a battle is underway” for the future of the Middle East as regional leaders gathered for a key peace summit.

* Hard-liners oppose Mideast talks in US Tens of thousands of people in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip rallied Tuesday against the Mideast peace conference under way in the U.S.

* Sneh: Iranian missile threatens Moscow Iran’s new ballistic missile not only increases the threat against Israel, but against European cities as well.

* Olmert to World Jewry: Israel Makes Sole Decision on Jerusalem Prime Minister Ehud Olmert informed American Jewish leaders Monday that Jews outside of Israel have no right to intervene in any decision regarding the status of Jerusalem.

* Syrian summit attendance surprises Iran Iran was caught by surprise when Syria decided to send its deputy foreign minister to participate in the Annapolis conference.

* Fatah fears Hamas takeover in West Bank The Palestinian police in Ramallah forcefully dispersed Tuesday a rally against the Annapolis Conference.

* ‘Israel maintains contact with Syria’ Israel maintains contact with Syria and transfers messages both overtly and covertly.

* Annapolis conference widens Arab rifts Opposition to the Annapolis Middle East conference was growing in the region Monday amid fears that the Maryland meeting would deepen internal divisions and crises.

* Turkish army urges Kurds to surrender The Turkish military, massed in increasing numbers for a possible assault on Kurdish rebels in Iraq, has begun dropping leaflets urging rebels to surrender and “be welcomed with love.”

* Musharraf bids farewell to troops President Pervez Musharraf has visited the army headquarters to bid farewell to troops a day before he is due to stand down as head of Pakistan’s army.