From Washington,this is VOA News.

The political party of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko says riot police stormed its headquarters in the capital, Kyiv, Monday as anti-government protests continued.

An opposition spokeswoman says troops entered the central headquarters of the Fatherland party Monday evening, breaking down doors and seizing computer equipment. Police deny the claim.

Also Monday hundreds of police, in full riot gear, took up positions across the capital and began dismantling barricades erected outside of some government buildings by demonstrators.

In a statement on the Presidential website, President Viktor Yanukovych backed the proposal for talks involving the opposition. No proposed date was giving.

Leaders are traveling to South Africa from around the world for Tuesday's memorial service for Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who died last week at the age of 95.

President Barack Obama leads US delegation to South Africa and includes first lady Michelle Obama, former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter to Johannesburg, where the main service will be held in the Soccer City stadium, the site of the 2010 World Cup.

More than 80 heads of state, royalty and high government officials from throughout the world are expected at the tribute to Mr. Mandela.

Thailand's prime minister dissolved the government and called for new elections.The move follows more than a month of anti-government protests in the capital, Bangkok.

VOA Steve Herman has the details.

As demonstrators began converging again on the seat of the Thai government's power, a conciliatory Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced she would ask the crown to consent to dissolve parliament and hold snap elections.

In a brief, nationally televised address, the prime minister acknowledged widespread opposition to her government.

The prime minister says that after listening to opinions from all sides, she has “decided to request a royal decree to dissolve parliament.”

But Yingluck says her cabinet will remain intact, albeit with limited powers, and she is staying on as caretaker prime minister.

Steve Herman,BANGKOK.

North Korea took the rare step of publicly purging Jang Song Thaek, the uncle of leader Kim Jong Un.

The official Korean Central News Agency said that Jang had been removed from all of his official posts and expelled from the ruling party. The report accused him of several criminal acts, including corruption, womanizing and drug use.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visited Pakistan on Monday for talks with civilian and military leaders over bilateral security cooperation and efforts to establish peace in neighboring Afghanistan.

Ayaz Gul has the details.

Monday's trip to ISLAMABAD by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was the first visit to Pakistan by a Pentagon chief in nearly four years. It came at a time when U.S.-led international forces are reducing their presence in neighboring Afghanistan.    
 
Hagel met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the country’s new military chief, General Raheel Sharif.

According to the Pentagon, the talks provided what it said was "an opportunity to advance a broad, robust, and continuous United States-Pakistan dialogue on topics of shared concern, including security and stability in the region."

Ayaz Gul VOA News ISLAMABAD.

Water ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are meeting in Khartoum to try to resolve differences over Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam. Egyptian officials were worried the Nile project threatens the nation's security.

VOA's Elizabeth Arrott has more.

This second round of tripartite talks follows a shift in allegiances among the three countries. Sudan has historically sided with Egypt in claiming the lion's share of the river's water and veto rights over upstream developments. But last week, Khartoum lent its support to Ethiopia's drive to complete construction.

Ethiopian officials have tried to bring Sudan and others on board by offering access to future electricity generated by the dam. They argue the project should be seen as a pan-African effort.

Yet Egypt remains worried. Ethiopia began diverting water earlier this year to fill the massive reservoir behind the dam, a multi-year effort that will lower water levels reaching Egypt.

Elizabeth Arrott VOA News CAIRO.

Iran and six world powers began two days of expert-level talks Monday at the Vienna headquarters to iron out details in implementing a landmark accord for Tehran to curb its disputed nuclear program.