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Israel's Sharon Faces Questions on Ethics

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended himself against allegations of conflict of interest in testimony before an Israeli parliamentary committee Tuesday, saying he had done nothing wrong.

Sharon could face criminal charges over the allegations by the state comptroller that he improperly promoted a farm bill that could benefit him and his sons. The Sharon family owns a large ranch in Israel's southern Negev desert and other land.

He and his two sons are already under a separate police investigation for their roles in receiving a questionable loan from a South African businessman to cover illegal campaign expenditures.

The farm bill at the center of the allegations against Sharon would allow people who own land designated for agricultural purposes to rent buildings on their land to outside businesses.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld shakes hands with Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano during their meeting in Tirana.

Rumsfeld meets top government officials in Albania

TIRANA, Albania (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met with President Alfred Moisiu and other top government leaders during a brief visit to Tirana to thank Albania for its support for the US-led war in Iraq.

Rumsfeld, who is on a four-day tour of Europe, did not speak to reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Prime Minister Fatos Nano, or following earlier talks with Moisiu and Defence Minister Pandeli Majko.

He was to fly later Tuesday to Munich, Germany, and planned to travel on to Brussels on Wednesday.