Efrat, West Bank, Dec 27 (Reuters): Jewish settlers set up 13 makeshift outposts in the occupied West Bank today in a show of strength ahead of Israeli elections that could swing on the growing debate over the territory.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to keep major West Bank settlements but has said some isolated communities may one day have to be dismantled to end conflict with Palestine.

Kathmandu (Reuters): King Gyanendra-led Nepal’s royalist government is ready to go ahead with its plan to hold long-delayed municipal elections early next year despite threats from Maoist rebels to disrupt the vote, home minister Kamal Thapa said.

Banda Aceh (Reuters): Former rebels in Indonesia’s Aceh said on Tuesday that they had disbanded their military wing, just days before the last of Jakarta’s troop reinforcements leave the tsunami-hit province. The military chief of the Free Aceh Movement, Muzakkir Manaf, also reiterated his commitment to a peace pact signed with the government.

Riyadh (Reuters): Five Saudi policemen were killed on Tuesday during a shooting spree by a gunman. The shooter, security sources said, was a wanted militant and was arrested later.