MARJAH, Afghanistan – US Marines leading one of NATO’s biggest offensives against the Taliban in the eight-year war are facing fierce resistance in some areas, including heavy gunfire, snipers and booby traps, US officials said yesterday.

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BRUSSELS – Greece faced down pressure for deeper budget cuts at euro zone talks yesterday and warned that last week’s support pledge by European leaders may not suffice to stop the debt market squeeze on governments in the region.

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KIEV – Supporters of Ukrainian President-elect Viktor Yanukovich pushed for an early February 25 inauguration yesterday to put pressure on rival Yulia Tymoshenko as she prepared a court challenge to his election.

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SANAA – Yemeni Shi’ite rebels freed a Saudi soldier yesterday, handing him to a ceasefire committee in a goodwill gesture, a Yemeni official said.

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TRIPOLI – Libya has stopped issuing entry visas to citizens of most European countries, officials said yesterday, in an apparent escalation of its diplomatic row with Switzerland.

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KOLKATA, India – About 100 Maoist rebels, many riding motorcycles, stormed a police camp in eastern India yesterday and killed at least 15 policemen as they fired indiscriminately and set fire to the site.

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ABIDJAN – Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters in eastern Ivory Coast yesterday, paralysing the city of Abengourou and forcing several cocoa warehouses to close in the top world supplier.

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WASHINGTON – US Democratic Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana announced yesterday he won’t seek re-election this fall, citing excessive political partisanship in a decision that may add to President Barack Obama’s difficulty in pushing his initiatives through a balky Congress.