On Tuesday, Mr Mubarak said Egypt had responded favourably to calls for reconciliation "despite the fact that some continue to overshadow the climate of reconciliation with positions that reflect schemes forged outside our Arab region", an apparent reference to Syria's strategic alliance with Iran.

BBC: Arab leaders meet to heal rifts

Under the cease-fire, about 1, 500 Russian peacekeepers are allowed to remain inside, and can do patrols about 6 kilometers outside, the "zone of conflict, " a reference to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

CNN: Georgia signs cease-fire agreement

The Washington neurosurgeon's reference to "testing" was also encouraging to outside experts who were trying to interpret Kennedy's seizure.

NPR: For Inaugural, Congress Suspends Party Divisions