The world in brief

LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There is no talking around it:This is a bitter defeat."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier,

whose Social Democrat Party lost the majority in Sunday's parliamentary election Article, 1ARiot disrupts visit to Jerusalem holy site

JERUSALEM - Israeli police used stun grenades Sunday to disperse Palestinian rioters at a volatile Jerusalem site holy to Jews and Muslims, police said.

The clash took place during a visit by a Jewish group to the compound in Jerusalem's Old City known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Deadly violence has broken out there in the past.

Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said around 150 Palestinians threw stones at the Jews visiting the site, which is open to non-Muslims at certain hours.

Jews regularly visit the compound, and it was not immediately clear what sparked the violence.

Police dispersed the rioters using stun grenades, and two policemen were lightly injured. Sunday's clash ended without serious injuries.

Rabah Bkirat, with the Muslim religious body in charge of managing the site, said protesters had come because of rumors of an "invasion" by Jewish settlers. When a group of some 15 Jews entered the grounds accompanied by police, the protesters began chanting slogans and only threw stones after police used force, he said.

Turkey, Armenia set to establish ties

ANKARA, Turkey - The Turkish premier says Turkey and Armenia will sign a deal to establish diplomatic ties Oct. 10.

The two had said last month they would conclude discussions to normalize relations by mid-October, though a major dispute remains over the World War I-era massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. Turkey insists it wasn't a genocide and that the death toll is inflated.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that the deal would be signed by the countries' foreign ministers, but it must be approved by the countries' parliaments before taking effect.

The deal also foresees the reopening of the Turkish-Armenian border.

The Turkish and Armenian soccer teams will meet in an Oct. 14 World Cup qualifier.

Socialists retain power in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal - The center-left Socialist Party retained power in Portuguese elections Sunday, despite the country's highest jobless rate in 20 years.

"We have once more been chosen to govern Portugal," said Prime Minister Jose Socrates, the Socialist leader. "This is a clear and extraordinary victory."

With more than 99 percent of votes counted, the incumbent Socialists had 36.5 percent compared with 29 percent for the center-right Social Democratic Party, the main opposition party.

Three smaller parties also secured seats in Parliament. The conservative Popular Party polled 10.5 percent, while the more radical socialist Left Bloc had almost 10 percent, and the Communist/Green coalition almost 8 percent.

Socrates has pledged big-ticket public works projects to stimulate growth amid forecasts that the economy will contract by as much as 4 percent this year.

The Social Democrats rejected a stimulus package, saying public works will saddle future generations with debt.

Conceding defeat, Social Democrat leader Manuela Ferreira Leite said her party would continue to oppose the Socialist spending plan in the Parliament.

Won't quit job, Brown tells Labor Party

BRIGHTON, England - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted he won't quit his post as his governing Labor Party met Sunday for its annual convention before a national election the party is expected to lose.

Brown's party trails far behind the main opposition Conservative Party in opinion polls, and has suffered heavy defeats in recent local council and European elections.

Brown himself has weathered sharp criticism of his leadership, not just from opposition politicians but also from within his own ranks. His handling of anger over Scotland's decision to release the Lockerbie bomber, and an admission that his government would need to cut public spending, despite earlier denials - have fueled new doubts about Brown's prospects of leading Labor into the election.

Brown, who will address the five-day conference in seaside Brighton on Tuesday, must by law call an election before June 2010, and his Labor Party will be seeking a fourth consecutive term in office. The next vote is expected in April or May.