Moscow ready to help free kidnapped Israeli soldiers: Lavrov

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to help Israel get back its kidnapped soldiers if asked to do so. He made the offer during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on the second day of his Middle East tou

Meanwhile, medics report that at least 10 Palestinians, most of them militants, have been killed in Israeli raids in Gaza.  Israel is denying Palestinian reports that it launched an air strike and directed artillery fire at targets near Gaza City.

In another development, Mahmoud Abbas has ordered all armed groups that are not part of the official government security forces to disarm immediately.