August 26, 2006 (Saturday)
- 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict:
- EU officials caution that the peacekeeping force in Lebanon will not disarm Hezbollah. Disarming Hezbollah is the responsibility of the Lebanese government and army. (NY Times)
- The Andover Inn Hotel in Liverpool was hit by a mystery fire in the early hours which led to 100 guests being evacuated. (Sunday Mirror)
- Chad orders United States' ChevronTexaco and Malaysia's Petronas out of the country for failing to meet tax obligations. Chadian president, Idriss Déby, stated that Chad, whose new national oil company was to partner with an Exxon Mobil-ChevronTexaco-Petronas consortium, will continue to work with US' Exxon Mobil while attempting to "find a solution with the two other partners." (BBC)
- Eyewitnesses claim that Israel bombed a Reuters armored car in Gaza City. Hospital staff say that two cameramen and three bystanders were injured. (Associated Press)[permanent dead link]
- Pakistani security forces kill rebel chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti in heavy fighting near the town of Dera Bugti in Baluchistan province. At least 25 commandos and 30 insurgents were killed in the fighting. (News Limited)
- NASA delays the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-115) for 24 hours. Lightning struck the space shuttle launch pad on Friday but no damage was caused. (Reuters)
- Ugandan government and rebel group Lord's Resistance Army sign a truce, in efforts to end the 20-year conflict. (BBC News)