An agreement has been reached between the two parties,'' White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said early today as the President left the Wye Plantation after 21 hours of talks with Netanyahu and Arafat and their tops aides.

Ordinance referred

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Governor Dr C Rangarajan has referred to the President, the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (rationalisation of reservations) Ordinance.

The ordinance, seeking to categorise the Scheduled Castes in four categories, was sent to the Governor by the state cabinet last week. It was referred to the President under Article 213 of the Constitution, official sources here today said.

Armymen killed

SRINAGAR: A junior commissioned officer and a police head constable were killed and two jawans injured in the Kashmir valley today. Official sources said the head constable Ghulam Nabi was injured in militant firing at Nowhatta and died in hospital.

Militants also took away two 303 rifles of thepolice personnel.

Pipe bombs found

COIMBATORE: Nine pipe bombs were recovered by the police from a bush near Nanjundapuram, on the outskirts of the city, last evening. The bombs appeared to have been abandoned long ago and they had lost their potency. The police had launched intensive combing operations in the city two days ago in view of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's visit today.