EUROPE NEWS AT 1200GMT

TOP STORIES:

EU-SUMMIT

BRUSSELS, Belgium _ EU leaders gather for a two-day summit to soothe growing concern that Europe is headed for an economic slump. They are also to discuss ways to bolster the 27-nation bloc's leadership in global climate change talks amid growing concern that with slowing growth the EU will put its priority to cut pollution on the backburner. Developing; lead after pre-summit talks at 1300GMT; summit starts 1600GMT. By Aoife White.

WITH: EU-SUMMIT-SARKOZY PLAN

WITH: EU-CROATIA

SERBIA-ELECTIONS

BELGRADE, Serbia _ The Serbian president dissolves parliament and calls early elections following his rift with nationalists over Kosovo's independence and Serbia's European Union aspirations. Moved. By Dusan Stojanovic. AP Photos.

US-NKOREA-NUCLEAR

GENEVA _ The United States and North Korea's top negotiators, who have previously broken stalemates in tense nuclear talks, will seek a new breakthrough in stalled diplomatic talks over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. Developing; talks start around 1130GMT. By Alexander G. Higgins. AP Photos planned.

WITH: US-NKOREA

ITALY-IRAQ-ARCHBISHOP

ROME _ The news agency of Italian bishops' conference says a Chaldean Catholic archbishop kidnapped in Iraq last month has been found dead. Developing.

WAR CRIMES-TAYLOR

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands _ Grim tales of cannibalism, including African peacekeepers as victims, highlight the brutality of West Africa's civil wars that emerges in testimony at Charles Taylor's war crimes trial. Developing. By Arthur Max.

EU-US-SECURITY MEETING

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia _ EU and U.S. security chiefs say they will start a new round of negotiations over Washington's demands that EU nations meet new travel security measures in exchange for visa-free entry into the United States. Moved. By Veronika Oleksyn.

ITALY-VIP PARLIAMENT

ROME _ Italian elections always bring a mixed bag of VIPs, sports celebrities or otherwise unorthodox candidates _ and the April vote is no exception. This time, there's the grandson of the last king of Italy, the brother of slain fashion designer Gianni Versace and a Roman princess who is close to the pope. By 1400GMT. By Alessandra Rizzo. AP Photos.

AUSTRIA-TERROR TRIAL

VIENNA, Austria _ An Austrian husband and wife have been found guilty of involvement in terror threats against targets in Germany and Austria and sentenced to prison terms. Moved.

GERMANY-INCEST

BERLIN _ Germany's highest court has upheld a law that makes incest a criminal offense, rejecting an appeal by a man who was given a prison sentence after fathering four children with his sister. Moved.

BRITAIN-SIN TAXES

LONDON _ Non-drinking, non-smoking, non-driving pensioners have reason to celebrate the British government's annual budget. But almost everyone else is reeling from the imposition of "sin taxes" that will increase the cost of alcohol, cigarettes, gas-guzzling cars and, potentially, plastic bags. Developing. By Jane Wardell.

FRANCE-ISRAEL-BOOKS

PARIS _ Opening the Paris Book Fair sounds like an innocent cultural stop on Israeli President Shimon Peres' state visit to France. Instead, it is charged with Mideast tensions. By 1300GMT; opening speech starts 1630GMT. AP Photos.

BUSINESS & FINANCE:

ITALY-EARNS-UNICREDIT

MILAN, Italy _ UniCredit SpA, Italy's second-largest retail bank, says fourth-quarter net profit rose 38 percent to 1.23 billion (US$2 billion) after acquiring Rome-based Capitalia and as it boosted net interest income and fees. Moved.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-GAS

MOSCOW _ Russian state-controlled natural gas monopoly OAO Gazprom and Ukraine announce an agreement on gas deliveries for the rest of the year, apparently putting an end to a dispute that had been watched nervously in Western Europe. Moved. By Jim Heintz.

FRANCE-SOCIETE GENERALE-PROBE

PARIS _ A Societe Generale employee who worked with Jerome Kerviel, the trader blamed for massive losses at the French bank, is released without charge after questioning. Kerviel's lawyers fear that could hurt his chances of getting released from custody. Moved. By Ingrid Rousseau.

SPAIN-INFLATION

MADRID, Spain _ Inflation in Spain has reached its highest level since 1995 with the National Statistics Institute reporting an annual 4.4 percent rate in February. Moved.

SPORTS:

UEFA CUP ROUNDUP

LONDON _ The final two spots in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup will be decided, with Rangers holding a 2-0 lead when it visits Werder Bremen and Sporting Lisbon hosting Bolton after a 1-1 first-leg draw. Bayern Munich, Zenit St. Petersburg, Fiorentina, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven and Getafe have already advanced. By 2230GMT.

ENGLISH PREVIEW

LONDON _ After emphatically beating last place Derby 6-1 with Frank Lampard getting four goals, Chelsea served notice on Arsenal and second-place Manchester United that it is still in the Premier League title race, five points behind the leader with a game in hand. By 1230GMT. By Robert Millward.

CHAMPIONS DRAW

LONDON _ Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says the Premier League is the strongest in Europe after four of its clubs reached the Champions League quarterfinals. In Friday's draw, United is joined by Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, along with FC Barcelona, Schalke, AS Roma and Fenerbahce. By 1400GMT.

SPANISH PREVIEW

MADRID, Spain _ Real Madrid needs to overturn recent history when it faces Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. Madrid hasn't won at El Riazor for 17 years, and is without a point there since 2002. By 1230GMT. By Paul Logothetis.

ITALIAN PREVIEW:

MILAN, Italy _ Inter Milan must regroup from a chaotic week to defend its six-point Serie A lead from a surging AS Roma. Inter will play at home against mid-table Palermo while Roma hosts AC Milan. By 1400GMT.

WCUP-MEN'S SUPER-G

BORMIO, Italy _ Bode Miller clinches his second overall title in four years when his closest challenger decides not to race in one of the final two races of the season. Moved. By Nesha Starcevic.

FEATURES & ARTS:

FRANCE-MARIE ANTOINETTE

PARIS _ Condemned to the guillotine, Marie Antoinette scrawled a message of despair in her prayer book: "My eyes have no more tears to weep for you, my poor children." A fascinating new Paris exhibit traces the queen's path from frivolous girl to devoted mother to tragic victim. Some highlights: her childhood sketches, her official portraits and revolutionary propaganda portraying her as sex-crazed and manipulative. By 1600GMT. By Angela Doland. AP Photos.

NORWAY-ARCTIC ADVENTURE

LONGYEARBYEN, Norway _ One disconcerting thing about sightseeing on these frozen Arctic islands at the edge of the polar ice pack: the biggest tourist attractions might be returning your stare. And to them, you're a potential meal. There are an estimated 4,000-5,000 polar bears on or around Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago as far north as you can fly on a commercial flight Moved. By Doug Mellgren. AP Photos.

For more features, please see the AP World Features Digest.

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YOUR QUERIES: The Europe & Africa Desk in London can be reached at +44 207 427 4300.