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TOP STORIES

At least 15 killed on Kenya coast on election day

NAIROBI/MOMBASA, Kenya - At least 15 people are killed in attacks by machete-wielding gangs as Kenyans vote in large numbers in first presidential election since disputed 2007 poll unleashed weeks of tribal bloodshed. (KENYA-ELECTIONS/ (UPDATE 7, PIX, TV), moved, by George Obulutsa and Joseph Akwiri, 831 words)

Syrian rebels report capture of provincial capital

AMMAN - Syrian opposition fighters capture northeastern city of Raqqa and crowds topple statue of President Bashar al-Assad's father, opposition sources and a resident say. (SYRIA-CRISIS/ (UPDATE 4), moved, by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, 1,100 words)

+ See also:

- SYRIA-CRISIS/UN, moved, by Michelle Nichols, 485 words

Kerry sees "finite" time for Iran nuclear talks to bear fruit

RIYADH - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says there is "finite" time for talks between Iran and world powers on its disputed nuclear programme to bear fruit, but gives no hint how long Washington may be willing to negotiate. (IRAN-NUCLEAR/USA (UPDATE 4), by Arshad Mohammed and Angus McDowall, 921 words)

+ See also:

- ISRAEL-IRAN/NETANYAHU (UPDATE 2), moved, by Matt Spetalnick and Paul Eckert, 946 words

- IRAN-NUCLEAR/IAEA (UPDATE 4, TV), moved, by Fredrik Dahl, 899 words

Bersani ultimatum may bring new Italy election closer

ROME - Italy could be inching closer towards another election within months after centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani issues ultimatum to anti-establishment comic Beppe Grillo to support new government or return to polls. (ITALY-VOTE/ (UPDATE 3, PIX, TV), moved, by Steve Scherer, 964 words)

US Republicans unveil plan to avoid government shutdown

WASHINGTON - U.S. congressional Republicans unveil plan to avoid government shutdown later this month, calming waters after months of budget fights that ended in failure last week to halt damaging spending cuts. (USA-FISCAL/, expect by 0045 GMT/7.45 PM ET, by David Lawder, 700 words)

+ See also:

- USA-FISCAL/AIRPORTS (UPDATE 3, PIX), moved, by Deborah Charles, 617 words

UNITED STATES

BP probe ignored pre-spill call about critical test -lawyer

NEW ORLEANS - BP's internal investigation of the company's Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010 ignored telephone call between BP supervisors about critical pressure test that was misinterpreted with deadly consequences, lawyer contends in aggressive questioning. (BP-SPILL/TRIAL, moved, by Stephanie Grace, 328 words)

Obama rounds out Cabinet with EPA, Energy picks

WASHINGTON - President Obama announces his nominees to lead new U.S. push to tackle climate change, choosing air quality expert to run Environmental Protection Agency and a nuclear physicist to head Department of Energy. (OBAMA-CABINET/EPA-ENERGY (UPDATE 4), moved, by Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton, 1,001 words)

+ See also:

- USA-EPA/MCCARTHY (PIX) (UPDATE 1), moved, by Patrick Rucker, 803 words

AMERICAS

Argentina dismisses Falklands vote, says oil industry unfeasible

LONDON - Referendum on fate of Falkland Islands is publicity stunt with no legal status, Argentina's ambassador to Britain says, warning that oil exploitation around territory is impossible without better regional ties. (BRITAIN-ARGENTINA/FALKLANDS, moved, by Mohammed Abbas, 459 words)

AFRICA

France says al Qaeda chief Abou Zeid 'probably' killed

PARIS/BAMAKO - France gives first indication it believes reports that Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, one of al Qaeda's more feared commanders in Africa, is killed in Mali, event that would deal serious blow to militants' leadership. (MALI-REBELS/FRANCE (UPDATE 4), moved, by Leigh Thomas and Adama Diarra, 702 words)

Protester shot dead, Guinea election talks falter

CONAKRY - At least one person is killed and six others wounded when Guinea's security forces open fire in capital, human rights group says, warning of deepening ethnic conflict stemming from rows over forthcoming legislative elections. (GUINEA-CLASHES/ (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, by Saliou Samb, 468 words)

MIDDLE EAST

Russia willing to consider making it easier for Libya to buy arms

UNITED NATIONS - Russia is prepared to consider ways of making it easier for Libya's government to buy arms, but voices serious concern about lifting embargo on North African state already awash with weapons, Russia's U.N. ambassador says. (LIBYA-ARMS/UN, moved, by Michelle Nichols, 465 words)

EUROPE

Euro zone to bail out Cyprus - no details on how

BRUSSELS - Euro zone finance ministers pledges to agree bailout for Cyprus by end of March, but details of how rescue will be financed are yet to be sorted out. (EUROGROUP-CYPRUS/ (UPDATE 3, moved, by Annika Breidthardt and Jan Strupczewski, 962 words)

ASIA

Borneo violence spirals into crisis for Malaysia, Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR - When dozens of armed Filipinos landed by boat on Malaysia's part of Borneo island last month claiming to be "royal army" and pressing obscure historic claim, it seemed like bizarre incident that would soon be resolved and forgotten. Three weeks later, 27 people including eight Malaysian policemen have been killed, sparking political crisis ahead of elections for Philippine and Malaysian governments and raising concerns of instability in resource-rich Sabah state. (MALAYSIA-SABAH/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Stuart Grudgings and Niluksi Koswanage, 1,078 words)

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Deep underground, worms and 'zombie microbes' rule

OSLO - Dark realm far beneath Earth's surface is surprisingly rich home for tiny worms and "zombie microbes" that may hold clues to origins of life, scientists say. (ENVIRONMENT-LIFE/, moved, by Environment Correspondent Alister Doyle, 665 words)

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130304/world-news-schedule-at-2300-gmt6-pm-et