Reuters - Libyan forces made ready to storm a desert town held by loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi Monday but held off in the hope of a surrender that would avoid bloodshed.

AP - Two Germans who disappeared nearly three weeks ago while hiking in the Hindu Kush mountains were shot to death, a police general said Monday.

Reuters - The United States must keep fighting the Taliban or risk more attacks like those of September 11, 2001, because the insurgent group is a ruthless enemy that has not cut ties to al Qaeda, the U.S. ambassador to Kabul said.