An ethicist for a leading conservative denomination in the United States, who was an adviser on social issues to former US president George W. Bush, says the former US practice of waterboarding terror suspects is torture and "violates everything we stand for".

With the area conferences of the United Methodist Church preparing to meet in July, South Central Jurisdiction is expected to address the controversial 2007 decision to lease property for a George W. Bush institute.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned to the country to challenge the Pervez Musharraf regime, has been assassinated in a suicide attack which has killed 20 others and injured several more.

The organisation linking together 35 of America's mainline Christian churches, accounting for 50 million members, has accused President George W. Bush of neglecting the needs of sick children, especially in poor communities.

The organizers of a United Methodist Church petition urging Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas not to house the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum, and Institute released early results of their petition drive and vowed to continue with their campaign.