MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who returned from talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said Wednesday that recalling envoys from Damascus did not help promote the Arab League's plan.

ATHENS (AFP) - A finalised plan to cut Greek debt that was hammered out with the European Union and IMF has been handed to partners in the governing coalition, a conservative party source said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who returned from talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, said Wednesday that Syrians themselves should decide the fate of their leader.

HELSINKI (AFP) - World-leading mobile phone maker Nokia plans to cut 4,000 jobs at its smartphone manufacturing facilities in Finland, Hungary and Mexico by the end of 2012, it said Wednesday.

NEW DELHI (AFP) - The Maldives' ex-president Mohamed Nasheed told AFP Wednesday he had been forced to resign by armed police and army officers in a coup plot hatched with the knowledge of his successor.