DIYARBAKIR (AFP) - Security forces on Saturday defused a powerful bomb on a busy highway in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast, similar to the one used in a deadly blast in the restive region’s main city, officials said. The remote-control bomb was found near Nusaybin, Mardin province, on a major highway along Turkey’s border with Syria used by both civilians and army troops, the local governor’s office said. It said the bomb was similar to the device used in the powerful blast that rocked the region’s biggest city Diyarbakir on Tuesday.

PRISTINA (AP) - A bomb damaged the car of a senior government official in Kosovo, police said yesterday, in the second such attack in as many days. There were no injuries. The explosion, around 11 p.m. on Saturday, damaged four vehicles in the eastern town of Gnjilane, 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Pristina.

Turkey yesterday harshly criticized the Netherlands for refusing to extradite a wanted top Kurdish rebel, slamming what it called inadequate international cooperation against terrorism. “The international community needs to cooperate against the evil (of terrorism), but unfortunately we do not see adequate cooperation in the outside world,” Justice Minister Cemil Cicek was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. “A clear example of this is the court decision in the Netherlands against Nuriye Kesbir. Unfortunately, those who take human lives, even those of women and children, can have protection in Europe,” he said. (AFP)

Serbia’s prime minister pledged at a military parade Saturday that his country will never give up Kosovo, describing the province as “the heart” of Serbia and vowing to prevent its possible secession. Vojislav Kostunica spoke as fighter jets flew low over Belgrade, where virtually the entire state leadership attended a grandiose graduation ceremony for about 200 cadets from Serbia’s Military Academy. Kostunica did not threaten the use of force, but said “Kosovo has always been and forever will remain within Serbia.” (AP)

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said yesterday he would not call early elections next year, arguing that such a move could damage strong economic growth in the EU candidate. Tensions inside the fragile ruling coalition have increased recently, but analysts said the four-party bloc was unlikely to jeopardize EU accession in 2007. (Reuters)