40 nations gather at Annapolis summit; Sarkozy calls for calm as riots strike Paris suburb; Bush, Gore privately discuss climate change...

27 November :: 40 nations to gather at Annapolis summit for Mideast peace negotiations; Israel, Palestinian leaders express hope for progress on comprehensive peace deal, while Hamas leader, ex-Palestinian PM, Haniyeh, says the Palestinian people will not be bound by what his rival Abbas agrees to... French pres. Nicolas Sarkozy has urged calm as riots spread through Paris suburb Villiers-le-Bel in wake of hit and run death allegedly involving police; residents allege the police involved fled on foot after being unable to start their car, damaged by the accident, opposition leader François Hollande, condemning the violence, said it sprung from a "social and political crisis" the gov't was unable to handle; similarity to situation that sparked 2005 riots across France leads some to fear more violence will ensue... In first private meeting since 2000 presidential election, US pres. Bush, fmr. rival Al Gore discussed climate change for 30 min. while Gore attended White House dinner for Nobel laureates... US, Iraq leaders sign non-binding bilateral cooperation agreement, via video conference; document is attempt to "codify" a relationship that would see phase out of US combat mission, conduct parallel security policy to UN mandate for occupation, stabilization troops...