Weather delays the U.S. Republican Party convention. The Afghan Taliban killed more than a dozen civilians. I’m David Deforest reporting from Washington. 

Officials in southern Afghanistan say Taliban (insurgents) have beheaded 17 Afghan civilians, including two women. The Interior Ministry said the civilians were killed in the Kajaki district of Helmand province late Sunday. There are conflicting reports about the reasons for the killings. Also, officials say insurgents (overran) an Afghan military post in Helmand’s Washir district, killing 10 Afghan troops and wounding four. In eastern Afghanistan, NATO officials say an Afghan soldier turned his weapon on two coalition service members, killing them both. NATO says its troops returned fire, killing the soldier. ISAF’s spokesman, Brigadier General Gunter Katz, was asked about the impact of this and similar events. 

“These incidents will not affect our (operations). The campaign is on track, we effectively fight the insurgency, and most importantly, we continue to fight alongside our partners from the Afghan National Security Force, who take their responsibility for more of this country every day.”

For more on this story, visit our website voanews.com.

Syrian (rebels) say they shot down a military helicopter during heavy fighting with government forces in Damascus today. Amateur video posted online shows what activists are claiming is a government helicopter falling to the ground in a ball of fire. Activists blame the government for killing hundreds of people during the past several days in Daraya, which lies on the outskirts of Damascus.

The U.S. Republican Party has shortened its national convention as a tropical storm skirts the coastline of Florida, the state hosting the event. The four-day convention in the city of Tampa was due to begin today, but Republican Party officials rescheduled most of the day’s speeches and other events for the remaining three days. Republicans are gathering to formally nominate Mitt Romney and his vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan, as we hear from VOA’s Doug Bernard at the convention.

They will be formally nominated at least by plan on Tuesday. Tuesday will be the roll call of the states. But we won’t really be hearing from the (nominee) governor Romney until Thursday night, his big address. There will be several other addresses leading up to that. Tuesday night governor Christ Christine will be delivering a key note. We will be hearing from other people as well, but Thursday night is governor Romney’s big moment.

And checking the weather for that area, U.S. forecasters are saying tropical storm Isaac should become a hurricane on Tuesday out at sea in the Gulf of Mexico.

A spokesman for Nigeria’s president has confirmed the government is engaged in talks with Boko Haram, the Islamist (militant) group blamed for killing hundreds of people. Presidential spokesman said backroom negotiations are being held to bring peace and stability, particularly in the north where most of the violence has taken place.

Unidentified gunmen have killed a Kenyan Muslim cleric who was accused of supporting the Somali militant group al-Shabab. Kenyan police say Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot and killed today in Mombasa. Initial reports say the gunmen attacked the cleric as he was driving a (vehicle) carrying his wife and family.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has given Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf three more weeks to comply with an order to reopen corruption cases against the country’s president. The decision is seen as a rare conciliatory move in the battle between the government and the judiciary.

Burma has sentenced two United Nations staff members and a U.N. partner to prison terms for alleged (involvement) in communal violence in western Rakhine state. Daniel Schearf reports.

A United Nations spokesman in Rangoon confirmed Monday a Burma court sentenced two of its staff members and a third U.N. partner to prison. Hla Thein, chairman of the government’s Rakhine Riot Information Committee tells VOA’s Burmese Service one U.N. staff member was found guilty of arson and given six year in prison. Others were guilty of inciting violence and promoting hatred between Buddhists and Muslims and were given between two and three years. All three were guilty of having illegal amounts of foreign currency, he says, and all of them worked for the U.N.’s refugee agency, the UNHCR. Daniel Schearf, VOA News, Bangkok.

Taking a brief look at markets, the Asia-Pacific stock markets were mostly lower at the close of trade today.

I’m David Deforest, more news on the Internet at voanews.com.