But former President George W. Bush avoided branding Beijing a currency manipulator, instead opting to urge it to adopt a more flexible exchange rate, possibly as a means to avoid further tension between the U.S. and China in what many worry could erupt into a trade war.
The move appears intended to avoid further escalating tensions with Iran.
The White House said President Bush had called the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, after the predawn airstrike and urged him to avoid further heightening tensions in the region.
The move appears intended to avoid further escalating tensions with Iran, which is under intense international diplomatic and economic pressure to curb its nuclear program out of fears that it is seeking to make a nuclear bomb.
Just seven months ago, Mr. Abdullah was front and center in the West's efforts in Afghanistan, with American, European, NATO and United Nations officials all pressing Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah to avoid further inflaming tensions after a disputed election initially left unresolved the question of who would be the next Afghan president.
China has said the most pressing task is to avoid further escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula.
In a decision intended to avoid further roiling the tensions between China and Taiwan, the Clinton administration agreed today to sell Taiwan upgraded versions of three missiles and a long-range radar system, but not four technology-laden destroyers.
When the president took office, the holdover staff was destroying his faxes and mail in small acts of sabotage, said one senior Brotherhood leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid further inflaming the tensions.
Poole and Clark did not participate in the battle and left immediately after the incident, possibly defusing tensions enough to avoid further bloodshed.
Last night the city was under curfew "to avoid further chaos" after a day of escalating tensions.
