Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki asked world leaders Thursday "to end the international sanctions that were imposed on Iraq because of the previous regime and to write off debts" that are an "impediment against reconstruction and development."…

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived Thursday in cyclone-damaged Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, to meet with Senior Gen. Than Shwe in hopes of convincing the stringent military junta to loosen restrictions on international aid.