World briefs

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt made an emotional appeal to EU lawmakers Wednesday to work for the release of other captives, saying nations must drop long-held taboos against talking with terror groups.

She said isolating such groups made no sense anymore and did little to address root causes of terrorism such as poverty.

Betancourt said that seeking "dialogue was indispensable" to ending conflict. "When I say we have to negotiate with terrorists, I say it's the best way to save lives."

She broke down in tears several times during her address to the lawmakers, who gave her numerous standing ovations."Let them (the hostages) rest assured that we will not stop, we will not give up in silence and we will never, never stop taking action until they are freed," said Betancourt.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's new spy chief briefed lawmakers Wednesday in an unusual private session focused on the fledgling government's fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants entrenched in the tribal belt along the Afghan border.

The government called the special session of parliament as it sought political unity to stabilize this key U.S. ally in the war on terror. Officials said the briefing was an effort to include opposition parties in the policy discussion.

Some lawmakers said they expected to be sworn to secrecy.

"We are fighting the war against terrorism and we will welcome any good advice or suggestion," Law Minister Farooq Naek said before the meeting began. Spokesman Maj. Murad Khan confirmed that the army general newly appointed as head of the country's main spy agency, Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, was talking to lawmakers.

BEIJING - China has adopted its first rules governing allowable levels of an industrial chemical at the center of the tainted milk scandal, as it tries to assuage a growing number of countries that are banning its imports.

The government has been struggling to deal with festering health and public relations issues since the crisis erupted last month. China's food exports have increasingly suffered, with more nations issuing import bans.

The melamine contamination has been blamed in the deaths of four babies and for sickening more than 54,000 children.

Dairy suppliers have been accused of adding melamine to watered-down milk to make the product appear rich in protein and fool quality control tests. There had been no previous standards. Under guidelines adopted Wednesday, melamine limits considered safe are set at one part per million for infant formula and 2.5 parts per million for liquid milk, milk powder and food products.