BBC Monitoring News Prospects for Tuesday 27 July 2004.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Main stories at 0100 gmt

IRAQ: Egypt has denied there was any deal to secure the release of one of its diplomats being held by militants in Iraq; dispute between United States and Iran over the status of exiled Iranian armed opposition group the People's Mujahideen

SUDAN: Sudan summoned senior British and German diplomats to protest at what it called threats to its national security while Medecins Sans Frontieres director Rowan Gillies said the world must do more to stop refugees in Darfur dying

USA/POWELL: US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Hungary at start of a week-long tour of eastern Europe and the Middle East; Powell will visit Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to rally support for the new Iraq administration and discuss Sudan

Asia-Pacific

INDIA: Third round of India-China special representatives-level border talks rounds off in New Delhi (Indian news agency PTI)

MALAYSIA: Singaporean Defence Minister Tony Tan visits (-28) at head of delegation; meets Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, other top officials; trip also includes visit to Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter Terrorism (Malaysian news agency Bernama)

INDIA: Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi visits (-30); during stay, due to meet President Abdul Kalam, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh (Bulgarian news agency BTA web site)

CHINA: Pakistani Senate Chairman Muhammad Mian Soomro visits (-31) at head of delegation; meets officials for talks on bilateral …