WORLD
* Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has slammed ex-Georgian premier and now opposition politician Zurab Nogaideli for his ties with Russia
* Spokesmen for both Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych denied on Friday their conspiracy ahead of presidential polls
* Ukraine denied on Friday allegations that a cargo plane loaded with illegal weaponry from North Korea was charted by a Ukrainian company
* A senior official at Ukraine"s secretariat published on Friday a secret deal pledging current leader Viktor Yushchenko the post of premier if opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych wins presidential polls, Unian said
* The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has congratulated Pope Benedict XVI and all those who celebrate Christmas on December 25 in line with the Gregorian calendar
* Pope Benedict XVI urged people worldwide on Friday to abandon violence and coexist peacefully in his Christmas address