Belgian king urges reconciliation in Christmas message
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King Albert II urged Belgium's French- and Dutch-speaking communities Monday to overcome their differences, after months of political crisis, and strive to learn each other's languages.
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A sense of crisis prevails in Belgium, as separatists want to slice the country horizontally along ethnic lines.
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Pope John Paul told the world in  his Christmas message on Saturday that people everywhere were  yearning for peace and expressed particular concern for Iraq,  the Middle East and Africa.
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Worshippers brought hopes for greater peace in the coming year as they flocked to Manger Square in Bethlehem and to St. Peter&#39;s in the Vatican to hear Christmas messages urging an end to violence, particularly in the Middle East.
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The king of Thailand appeals for the military and police to work together to restore peace in Thailand's south.
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President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma wished a Merry Christmas to followers of the Roman Catholic, Reformatory and Lutheran Churches.
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As the faithful marked Christmas Day, political and religious leaders called for peace and reconciliation amid flickers of hope in places long plagued by conflict.
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Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders began Wednesday sounding out political leaders on forming a coalition government that would bridge Belgium&#39;s linguistic divide in the wake of Sunday&#39;s elections.
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Â· French president headed for showdown in Brussels  Â· He will demand greater political control over euro
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"The king received Mr Guy Verhofstadt this evening at the palace in Laeken (Brussels) and named him prime minister"  Belgian King Albert reappointed Guy Verhofstadt as prime minister on Friday to head an interim government charged with trying to bridge Belgium's ever-widening linguistic divide. via Reuters
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Outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Guy  Verhofstadt tendered his resignation to King Albert II on  Monday after his governing liberals and their socialist  partners suffered big losses in Sunday&#39;s general election.
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The Queen records a special Christmas message to British troops and their families.
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Pope Benedict on Tuesday said he hoped Christmas would bring consolation to those living in poverty, injustice and war and appealed for just solutions to conflicts in Iraq, the Holy Land, Afghanistan and Africa.
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The European Union&#39;s (EU) Dutch Term President, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkanende, has called on relevant parties in the Cyprus issue to restart negotiations.
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Peace appeals are heard as Palestinian leaders join Christmas festivities in the town of Bethlehem.
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British Queen Elizabeth II sent a special Christmas message to British troops serving overseas, the recorded radio message will be aired on Saturday afternoon, said Buckingham Palace, BBC reported.
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Belgium's caretaker prime minister said on Wednesday he would form a five-party, interim coalition government, providing a temporary solution to a political crisis more than six months after elections.