Gaza City  - The radical Palestinian Hamas movement on Saturday downplayed Israel's rejection of its offer of a six-month truce.

An Israeli government spokesman rejected Hamas' offer Friday, saying it was "not serious."

Mahmoud al-Zahar, a Hamas leader who took part in the talks with Egyptian mediators, said that his movement "doesn't take the official response from the media."

"What we take is that which comes from the Egyptian side because it mediates between us and the occupation (forces)," al-Zahar told reporters after he returned to Gaza from Egypt.

He said Hamas expected "to get an answer after less than one week."

Tehran  - The conservatives lead in the second round of Iran's parliamentary elections

Amsterdam  - Attempts by Dutch legislator Geert Wilders to engage in public debate with Muslims about his controversial film Fitna have so far not been successful, reports said Friday.

Hong Kong (dpa) - Hong Kong journalists may get "lessons in patriotism" to give them a

Rome - Silvio Berlusconi triumphed Monday for a third time in Italian elections - h

Port-au-Prince, Haiti