Kim Jong Il has taken elaborate measures to escape in the event of a military invasion by forces from the United States and South Korea Photo: PHOTOSHOT

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea has increased its missile arsenal by 25 percent in the past two years to about 1,000, expanding the threat the state poses to the region, the South’s defence chief said on Wednesday.

Pyongyang’s arsenal includes intermediate-range missiles that can hit targets at up to 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away, Yonhap news agency quoted Kim Tae-young as telling a forum of business leaders.

The missiles could hit all of Japan and put U.S.

Fighters with the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND. Photo AFP

ABUJA, Nigeria—Two bombs exploded early Monday outside a government building in the city of Warri, a Nigerian oil hub, said officials and witnesses, dealing a blow to a peace deal that aimed to prevent militant attacks on the nation’s oil infrastructure.

The attacks occurred just minutes before state governors were to convene to discuss a government peace program with Niger Delta militants.

Israel and the United States are in a “crisis of historic proportions” over a settlement dispute that has brought relations to a 35-year low, Israel’s ambassador to Washington was quoted on Monday as saying.

The comments attributed to envoy Michael Oren clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to play down tensions with U.S.

Nouri Maliki has strengthened his lead over main rival Iyad Allawi in Iraq’s parliamentary elections, with partial results now in from all 18 provinces.

Mr Maliki’s State of Law coalition is leading in seven provinces, including Baghdad and Shia-dominated Basra.

The alliance led by former PM Mr Allawi is ahead in five provinces, including oil-rich Kirkuk, where Kurdish parties were expected to win.

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Iraqi PM holds slim lead in partial election tally — AP
Iraq’s Maliki Maintains Election Lead — Wall Street Journal
Iraqi Poll Results Show Iraqi PM Leading in Oil-Rich Basra — Voice of America
Prime minister’s alliance leading after Iraq election — CNN
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race — Reuters
Iraq PM extends lead in vote count — AFP
PM Maliki leads poll count in key Baghdad constituency — BBC
Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition — Washington Post
FACTBOX – Five facts about Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki – Reuters
Election monitors’ report increases doubts over fairness of Iraq election — Times Online
Election puts Iraq’s future decidedly in Iraqi hands — Washington Post