* U.S. hails capture of Palestinian guerrilla Abu Abbas in
Iraq as proof of a link between Saddam and terrorism
* Italy says will seek extradition of Abbas; Palestinian
Authority demands his release but U.S. says he has no immunity
under 1995 Middle East peace deal
* U.S. says Marines raid Baghdad home of scientist wanted
for work on Saddam's banned weapons programme
* Syria says will cooperate with U.S. but not close offices
of radical Palestinian groups; Iran tells U.S. to stop
threatening Syria; says hopes "occupiers" will leave Iraq soon
* EU nations pledge to work with the U.S. to rebuild Iraq
* Bush calls on U.N. to lift economic sanctions against
Iraq; White house says U.S. intends to propose U.N. resolution
lifting sanctions "in the near future"

QUOTES
U.S. military spokesman Thorp on capture of Abbas: "When we
came into this the Secretary of Defense (Donald Rumsfeld) said
one big concern was the nexus between this regime and terrorism.
This proves the nexus was there."
Bush: "Now that Iraq is liberated the United Nations should
lift economic sanctions on that country."
Iran's Khatami, asked if the U.S. could attack Syria: "It is
unlikely that the United States will be able to do it, and it is
unlikely that the world would allow a repetition of what
happened in Iraq."

EVENTS (TIMES IN GMT)
Thursday
* European leaders and Annan to discuss post-war Iraq at EU
summit
Friday
* Middle Eastern foreign ministers provisionally scheduled
to meet in Riyadh

CASUALTIES
* U.S. - 123 killed, 4 missing
* Britain - 30 killed
* Iraqi military - at least 2,320 in Baghdad, according to
U.S. military. Iraq has given no figures for its military losses
* Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates up to April 3) - 1,254
killed, 5,112 wounded

RECONSTRUCTION
EU to fly wounded Iraqis, especially children, to Europe for
urgent hospital treatment in next few days, Chirac says.
Up to seven European countries may send peacekeeping troops
to Iraq, EU officials say; Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen says Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark
interested; EU diplomats say Italy and Spain also interested
West's energy watchdog, International Energy Agency, says it
does not expect Iraqi oil exports to resume within next few
weeks. U.S. says can get Iraqi oilfields pumping at two-thirds
of pre-war levels within weeks, although resuming exports
depends on creation of political authority.
Turkey says U.N. to buy $200 million worth of foodstuffs
from Turkish suppliers as part of Iraq aid package.
U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation says farmers in Iraq
urgently need spare parts and fuel for upcoming spring harvest.
U.N. World Food Programme to send dozens of trucks loaded
with food aid into northern Iraq, raising volume of daily
shipments towards 2,000-tonne target.
Iraqis are unlikely to get a new currency until well after a
new Iraqi authority is formed; U.S. plans to give emergency
one-off $20 payments to civil servants will grease the economy
with dollars in the meantime.