WASHINGTON: The White House has promised to sign an internatioanl treaty banning landmines, only if the Pentagon comes up with an alternative weapon, the New York Times said today. In its decision, however, the Clinton administration has not set a firm deadline for the Pentagon's task.

Lanka blast

COLOMBO: An explosion ripped through another telephone exchange in Sri Lanka today, the third in less than a month, and damaged radio communications equipment but caused no casualties, police sources said. Meanwhile, police have arrested four key suspects of the truck bombing of the WTC building here in Dec.

Wasia crisis

JERUSALEM: Israel has rejected calls by France and Egypt for an international conference of those determined to save the Middle East peace process. ``Israel is opposed to an international conference to which the parties involved are not invited,'' the Israeli foreign ministry said.

Nurses' version

LONDON: ONE of the two British nursesfreed from jail in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murdering an Australian colleague claimed she was tortured into a confession. The other said she was threatened with gang-rape if she did not confess to aiding murder of Yvonne Gilford.

Bolivian quake

LA PAZ: A powerful earthquake devastated areas of Central Bolivia early on Friday, leaving at least 17 people dead and 100 missing, radio reports and rescue operation sources said. The quake measuring 6.6 on the Richter. Scale struck at around 1 AM (0500 GMT) some 600 km east of the capital in the province of Cochabamba.