Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1130 GMT, Dec. 15

SARI PUL, Afghanistan -- 18 civilians including women and children have been killed and some 5,000 families have fled their homes as Taliban continues to attack Tabar valley of Sangcharak district in the northern Sari Pul province over the past four days, head of Provincial Council Mohammad Noor Rahmani said Friday.

"Around 5,000 families have left their houses for safer places as Taliban militants attacks on Tabar valley have been continuing over the past four days," Rahmani told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Casualties)

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NEW DELHI -- Indian main opposition Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi Friday said she would retire after her son Rahul Gandhi takes over the reins from her Saturday.

"My role now is to retire," the 71-year-old Italy-born politician told media in Delhi, putting to rest all speculation about her future role in India's grand old party. (India-Sonia Gandhi-Retires)

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SEOUL -- South Korea's unification ministry confirmed its position Friday that it will continue efforts to peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Lee Yu-jin, deputy spokesperson of the unification ministry, told a press briefing that there has been no change in the government's position to continue efforts for the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in cooperation with the international community.

She said South Korea will not accept the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s unilateral claim that it had completed its nuclear force. (S. Korea-DPRK-Nuclear) Enditem