Irish Premier quits as party leader, stays as PM

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• Irish Premier quits as party leader, stays as PM
• Nepal Maoists hand over control of ex-fighters to government
• Former spy with agenda operates a private CIA
• Malaysia holds 7 Somali pirates after saving ship
• Nuclear talks between Iran, 6 nations fail
• Lawmakers: Karzai to convene Afghan parliament
• Britain laments Iran's 'refusal to engage'
• Irish premier resigns as party leader, stays as PM
• Slap to a man’s pride set off tumult in Tunisia
• Giffords hears cheers leaving Arizona, smiles

Irish Premier quits as party leader, stays as PM Posted: Four candidates have launched a battle to lead Ireland's governing party after troubled Prime Minister Brian Cowen's quit the post after a series of crises forced him to announce snap polls.

Nepal Maoists hand over control of ex-fighters to government Posted: The head of Nepal's former Communist rebels handed command of his fighters over to the government on Saturday as part of a peace deal that ended the Himalayan nation's decade-long conflict.

Former spy with agenda operates a private CIA Posted: Duane R Clarridge parted company with the Central Intelligence Agency more than two decades ago, but from poolside at his home near San Diego, he still runs a network of spies.

Malaysia holds 7 Somali pirates after saving ship Posted: The Royal Malaysian Navy said its commandos injured three pirates in a gunbattle and rescued the 23 crewmembers of the Malaysian-flagged MT Bunga Laurel early on Friday, less than two hours after the assailants stormed the vessel with pistols and assault rifles.

Nuclear talks between Iran, 6 nations fail Posted: Two-day talks in Istanbul between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group ended without progress and no new meeting was scheduled to tackle concerns that Tehran is secretly developing an atomic bomb.

Lawmakers: Karzai to convene Afghan parliament Posted: Two Afghan lawmakers say President Hamid Karzai has agreed to convene parliament on Wednesday, ending a political standoff that threatened to spark a constitutional crisis.

Britain laments Iran's 'refusal to engage' Posted: British Foreign Secretary William Hague today said that Iran's "refusal to engage" world powers over its nuclear programme during talks in Istanbul was "extremely disappointing".

Irish premier resigns as party leader, stays as PM Posted: Prime Minister Brian Cowen today announced that he has resigned as leader of Ireland's dominant Fianna Fail party but intends to keep leading the government through the March 11 election. Opposition chiefs demanded his immediate ouster as premier.

Slap to a man’s pride set off tumult in Tunisia Posted: Mohamed Bouazizi spent his whole life on a dusty, narrow street here, in a tiny, three-room house with a concrete patio where his mother hung the laundry and the red chilis to dry. By the time Mr. Bouazizi was 26, his work as a fruit vendor had earned him just enough money to feed his mother, uncle and five brothers and sisters at home. He dreamed about owning a van.

Giffords hears cheers leaving Arizona, smiles Posted: She heard them, smiled, and tears welled up in her eyes. The caravan carrying Rep. Gabrielle Giffords swept past cheering crowds Friday as she left the hospital in Tucson, Ariz., where she dazzled doctors with her recovery from being shot in the head two weeks ago, and was moved to Houston for rehabilitation.

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