SOFIA (AFP) - The current levels of dust in the air in Sofia are four times the norm, the executive environmental agency said yesterday, blaming the fog that has enveloped the Bulgarian capital in recent days. Over the past two days, the quality of air taken at specific points throughout Sofia showed dust particle readings of 209.27 milligrams per cubic meter, said the agency, which is part of Bulgaria's Environment Ministry. The norm is 50 milligrams per cubic meter. In a statement, the agency explained that the fog that has enveloped the capital in the past few days was trapping dust emitted from road traffic, coal-fired heating and industry.

NICOSIA (AFP) - An international think tank has warned Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot leaders of the risks of a partition of Cyprus unless they return swiftly to UN-mediated reunification talks. In a report published Thursday, the International Crisis Group said both sides should hold talks after the presidential election on February 17 in the government-controlled south. «If such efforts fail, the alternative is likely to be partition,» the Brussels-based ICG said. The ICG made 11 recommendations for a resumption of intercommunal talks, including a call on the United Nations to «build up its team in Cyprus and send a senior figure to conduct an assessment mission.»

International press distributors threatened yesterday to stop sending overseas newspapers and magazines to Albania because of a new tax approved by parliament. Peter Emod, managing director of the Zurich-based agency Distripress, wrote a letter to Albanian President Bamir Topi urging him not to ratify the law, adopted by parliament last month, levying a 20 percent tax on all imported press products. (AP)

President Traian Basescu said yesterday that Romania supports having Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Croatia join NATO. Basescu made the comment after meeting NATO'S secretary-general months before a summit in Bucharest, Romania's capital. «Romania unreservedly supports (NATO) enlargement with Croatia, Macedonia and Albania,» Basescu said. «Beyond enlargement, the summit wants to bring Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro closer to the alliance.» (AP)

A Croatian war crimes suspect was freed from jail yesterday and his trial was suspended because he had regained immunity from prosecution when the parliament - to which he was re-elected - convened. Branimir Glavas had been in detention since 2006 and was on trial for allegedly forming a paramilitary unit during the 1991 Serbo-Croat war and ordering the torture and killings of at least two Serb civilians. (AP)