The world in brief

LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY "The danger of the fires flaring up again is not yet over."

Greek Fire Brigade spokesman Yiannis Kappakis

on blazes that threatened Athens' suburbs but receded Monday Article, this page7 high visitors seek

Honduran's return

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Foreign ministers from seven nations launched a direct, high profile attempt Monday to persuade Honduras' interim government to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

The delegation from the Organization of American States was the most prominent group of officials to visit Honduras since Zelaya was arrested and hustled out of the country June 28, prompting outrage from governments worldwide.

The foreign ministers - from Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic - made no public comments on arrival, but Mexico's Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa told the Mexican newspaper Reforma that they want to hear from Hondurans before deciding what steps to take next.

The OAS is pressuring the interim government to accept a plan proposed by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias that would return Zelaya to power until new elections are held by the end of November.

The government headed by interim President Roberto Micheletti has repeatedly refused that plan, arguing that it would trample on rulings by the country's Supreme Court and Congress.

Micheletti insists that Congress legitimately removed Zelaya from office for ignoring court orders to drop efforts to change the constitution.

N. Korea reportedly beckons U.S. envoy

SEOUL, South Korea - President Barack Obama's special envoy on North Korea is likely to visit the communist nation next month for the first nuclear negotiations between the two countries under his presidency, a news report said today.

North Korea recently invited special envoy Stephen Bosworth and chief nuclear negotiator Sung Kim to Pyongyang, and the U.S. government is strongly considering their trip to North next month, Seoul's Joong Ang Ilbo daily reported.

The U.S. diplomats may be able to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during the visit, considering Pyongyang's recent conciliatory attitude, the report said, citing an unidentified source in Washington.

Yonhap news agency also reported that the North has invited the two officials and that the U.S. is reviewing the offer.

Comments from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul were not immediately available.

The reported trip, if realized, would mark the first nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea under the Obama administration.

4 hurt in clash on

Gaza-Israel border

JERUSALEM - Three Palestinians and an Israeli were wounded Monday in violence on the Gaza-Israel border, according to officials from both sides.

Israeli military said soldiers opened fire on a group of suspicious Palestinians across the border in northern Gaza. Palestinian Health Ministry official Moaiya Hassanain said two wounded men were brought to hospitals, and the military said another was taken to Israel for treatment.

Later, Palestinians fired two mortar shells from Gaza, Israeli rescue services and the military said, slightly wounding a soldier.

Also Monday, Israeli TV stations broadcast video that appeared to show Hamas forces killing Gaza rebels believed to be part of an extremist group during an armed confrontation earlier this month.

The video of the Aug. 15 clash shows what appears to be blackclad Hamas militants firing at rebels pinned in a mosque courtyard and mowing them down during a fierce exchange of fire.