KABUL — A blast in eastern Afghanistan killed two American troops and wounded four others today, a U.S. military spokeswoman said.

The troops were attacked in eastern Paktika province, but there were no immediate details about the incident, said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker.

The deaths come as thousands of Marines in southern Afghanistan are involved in the biggest U.S. military operation here since the American-led invasion of 2001, trying to cut insurgent supply lines and win over local elders.

U.S. troops continued looking for an American soldier believed captured by insurgents in Paktika province, Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo said yesterday. The soldier and three Afghans with him went missing on Tuesday. There was no immediate public claim of responsibility from any insurgent group.

VIOLENCE COULD END U.S. SUPPORT OF IRAQ

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Vice President Joe Biden warned Iraqi officials yesterday that the American commitment to Iraq could end if the country again descended into ethnic and sectarian violence.

Biden delivered the warning during a three-day visit to Iraq that began a few days after the United States formally withdrew most combat troops from Iraqi cities under a security agreement reached last year. It was the vice president's first visit since President Obama asked him to take the lead on Iraq policy.

In meetings with senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Biden stressed the U.S. would remain engaged in Iraq, even as its military role diminished amid a withdrawal that is expected to dramatically gather pace after parliamentary elections in January 2010.

IRAN TO TRY BRITISH EMBASSY WORKERS

A powerful cleric said yesterday that Iran will put British Embassy staffers on trial for fomenting postelection turmoil, a step that would likely increase Iran's isolation and alienate Western nations that have been trying to keep options open with Tehran despite its crackdown on protesters.

The announcement fueled calls in Europe for tougher action against Tehran. Britain is pressing for members of the European Union to pull their ambassadors out of Tehran to protest the staffers' arrests last week.

Iran's leadership has been trying to erase any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by portraying the unrest as sparked by foreign meddling, not by public anger over the June 12 election, which the protesters said was fraudulent.

HONDURAS REFUSES TO REINSTATE ZELAYA

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas' top international diplomat yesterday, refusing to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya and setting the stage for a showdown if the ousted leader returns to reclaim power this weekend.

Jose Miguel Insulza, who heads the Organization of American States, said the hemispheric body would decide today whether to suspend Honduras, a move that could lead to further sanctions against one of the Latin Americas' poorest countries and encourage other organizations and countries to halt aid and loans.

Insulza flew to Honduras yesterday to demand that the interim government restore Zelaya before this morning's deadline. Zelaya was ousted in a military-backed coup Sunday and flown into exile, but the world community has rallied around him to demand his return to office.

U.N. CHIEF’S MYANMAR TALKS UNSUCCESSFUL

YANGON, Myanmar — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he was "deeply disappointed" after Myanmar's military ruler rejected his second and final request to meet jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ban met with Senior Gen. Than Shwe in Naypyitaw, the junta's remote capital, for another round of talks that failed to win immediate concessions or accomplish one of the main goals of his trip — to see Suu Kyi in jail. Suu Kyi has been detained for nearly 14 of the past 20 years and is on trial charged with violating her house arrest.

Ban said the junta chief told him repeatedly "he really wanted to agree to my request" but because Suu Kyi was on trial he did not want to be seen as interfering with the judicial process — or being pressured by the outside world. Ban was scheduled to leave Myanmar this evening.