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enforcement have combined in an explosive mix to fuel their rebellions and pockets of lawlessness.
• The trouble began after the Moro rebels -- seeking to regain their former dominance in the region -- tried to arrange the release of several hostages held by the

Abu Sayyaf, including a prominent Jordanian TV journalist and two European tourists. When the Abu Sayyaf commanders refused to free the hostages, Moro rebels launched an attack.
• ___

• MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) -- After nearly two years of nonstop unrest, opposing factions in Bahrain are set to open talks to ease an Arab Spring conflict that has run

longer than Syria's rebellion and is playing out on the doorstep of the U.S. military's main naval base in the Persian Gulf.
• But mistrust runs so deep on all sides that even the prelude to Sunday's planned start of negotiations has been a study in the kingdom's divisions and suspicions, and suggests a difficult route toward any possible accords.
• The country's Sunni rulers -- supported by the West and other Gulf allies -- seek to bring the main Shiite factions back into the political fold in hopes of starting a gradual reconciliation on the strategic island, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
• Envoys from the Shiite groups, however, remain wary of opening a process that they believe has no chance of reaching their goals: forcing the ruling monarchy to give up its monopoly on power and allow an elected government that would certainly include the majority Shiites.
• Meanwhile, hard-line Shiite protesters demand nothing short of toppling the two-century-old dynasty. Such a showdown would likely prompt another round of military action from neighbors such Saudi Arabia, which sent in troops to aid Bahrain's Sunni leaders after the uprising began in February 2011.
• ___

• HAVANA (AP) -- There have been some strange sights on Cuban TV sets recently.

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