Doctors Without Borders pulls out of Iraq

Aid group Doctors Without Borders has announced it will be withdrawing 90 Iraqi workers, citing "escalating violence." A spokesperson for the group said that it was no longer possible "to guarantee an acceptable level of security for our staff." The move comes in the wake of a Care International worker, Margaret Hassan, who is still being held. Doctors Without Borders removed its foreign workers from Iraq a month ago.

Ecuadorean congress begins impeachment process

The Ecuadorean congress has begun a hearing that could ultimately lead to the impeachment of president Lucio Gutierrez. His opponent's charge that he misused public funds to finance his election campaign. Gutierrez denies the charge and has vowed to fight impeachment plans. Analysts believe that Gutierrez has enough support in the congress to avoid being impeached.

Arafat in critical condition, on life support

Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat is reportedly in critical condition and on life support in a hospital in France. Arafat, who was admitted last week, has been suffering from a blood disease. Doctors ruled out the possibility of leukemia. Despite some reports, the Palestinian Authority says that Arafat is not clinically dead. Two U.S. officials have claimed that Arafat is being kept alive on life support while burial arrangements are worked out.

Brazilian defense minister quits

Jose Viegas, Brazil's defense minister, has resigned his post in outrage, after the army issued a statement defending the conduct of the country's former military government. Viegas tendered his resignation nearly two weeks ago, but it was not publicly accepted by Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva until Tuesday. A military dictatorship ruled the country from 1964 until 1985.

U.N. warns Darfur is 'close to anarchy'

Jan Pronk, the United Nations envoy to Sudan, has warned that the Darfur region of the country is "close to anarchy" and a potential "recipe for disaster" due to the increasing violence in the area. Despite a Security Council threat of sanctions against the country, Pronk said that the government is not in control of its military forces. The escalating violence has caused several aid agencies to leave the country, and has left several others considering the same. A 3,000 troop force from the African Union is expected to arrive by the end of the month.