THOUSANDS of demonstrators including mayor Ken Livingstone were due to rally in London yesterday to protest the publication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.

Organisers said the aim was to allow Muslims to express concern about Islamophobia in Europe but also to appeal for calm.

Livingstone said the media devoted too much coverage to the "tiny minority of extremists" who took part in an angry protest in London last week.

Tamil Tigers free 28 child soldiers SRI Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels say they have released 28 child soldiers.

Eight were handed over to parents while another 20, who the rebels said were unwilling to return home, were placed in a training centre. Human rights groups accuse the Tigers of using about 4,000 child soldiers since beginning their fight against the government in 1983.

Armenia and Azerbaijan resume talks

THE Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents began a second day of talks in France on ending a conflict over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, the most important talks in years on the region. Hopes have been growing for a settlement of the 18-year dispute.

'Only Napoleon did more than me' - Italian PM

ITALIAN premier Silvio Berlusconi says he can think of only one man who achieved more than him as leader . . . Napoleon. He made the comparison on a late-night talk show. "Only Napoleon did more, " he said, "but I am definitely taller." Berlusconi has been depicted as Napoleon by cartoonists.