In another conciliatory gesture, China abstained from voting on the United Nations motion authorizing peacekeeping forces in Kosovo.

CNN: DELICATE MISSION TO CHINA

With the regime divided, any conciliatory gesture is too easily painted as weakness by one faction or another.

ECONOMIST: Iran in turmoil

And Mr Zardari, as a conciliatory gesture, offered to send the head of the ISI, Lieut-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, to Delhi.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan

Russia's State Duma made a conciliatory gesture towards improving relations with Washington Wednesday when it answered calls by Putin to ratify the most recent U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty.

CNN: Moscow talks stumble over Iraq

But it is also likely to be seen as a conciliatory gesture, emphasizing France's willingness to work with the new Barack Obama administration after opposition to the Iraq invasion led to a breakdown U.S.-French relations.

CNN: France's Sarkozy in Iraq to rebuild ties