and explosions rocked the Afghan peace conference. And Japanese prime minister resigns to atone for the Okinawa base negotiations. I'm Frances Alonzo reporting from Washington. The streets of Kabul echoed with insurgent gunfire and explosions late on Wednesday morning. It came as (representatives) from all over Afghanistan met the first day of the National Consultative Peace Jirga. VOA correspondent Sean Maroney attended the Jirga's opening (ceremony) in the Afghan capital and has this report. Afghan organizers say the goal of the peace conference is to reach consensus for a road map to reconcile with Taliban insurgents and others fighting against the government and coalition forces. But insurgents didn't want to talk. As President Hamid Karzai addressed the assembly. A rocket explosion outside the (massive) ten constructings in west Kabul briefly interrupted him. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The 1600 delegates reacted calmly as the president noted that this was the first time they've heard this type of thing. Police later said the explosion was caused by a rocket fired near the Jirga camps. Sean Maroney VOA news, Kabul. You can read details on this particular story on our (website) at voanews.com. We turn our attention now to Israel while officials there say they will complete the deportation Wednesday on nearly 700 foreign foreign activists (seized) in an Israel's raid on the convoy aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip. Authority took the activists into custody on Monday after the Israeli commando operation. The commandos killed at least 9 activists after boarding the Tukish ship leading the flotilla. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama says he is resigning because he failed to keep a campain promise to move a US military base off the island of Okinawa. Mr.Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan scored a landslide election victory nine months ago. Sweeping the Liberal Democratic Party from power after 15 years of a non-stop government control. A party's funding scandal and (doubts) about Mr.Hatoyama's leadership scale the road the DPJ's popular standing have Mr.Hatoyama's approval waiding plundged to as lower as 70% after he failed to get the US to agree to move its marine base off Okinawa. Thailand's coalition government has survived the known (confident) vote after the debate that focused on the recent anti-government clashes that left more than 80 people dead. Ron Corben reports from Bangkok. The protest in the operation to clear up the Red Shirt camps in central Bangkok left 88 people and almost 2000 injured. The opposition Poor Thai Party accused the government of using access force. They also accused Mr.Abhisit and some cabinet members of (corruption) and insulting Thailand's revered Monarchy. The government denied using any access force and blamed to Red Shirt gunmen for instigating the bloodshed. Ron Corben for VOA news, Bangkok. The oil sleaking in the Gulf of Mexico is closing in and on the Florida coastline as oil giant BP continues its efforts to contain the 6-week-old oil leak. The largest oil spill in US history has come ashore in the state of Louisiana ,Alabama and Mississippi. BP is using submersible robots to cut away oil pipes as part of latest plan to stop the flow from the damage well off the coast of Louisiana. Iran's foreign minister has warned that a move toward new international sanctions against his country is a wish for a confrontation. Manouchehr Mottaki says a new (sanction) resolution would kill the deal made with Turkey and Brazil to ship out 1.2 tons of its enriched uranium in exchange for nuclear fuel. The foreign minister also said there are two options resolving the Iran nuclear dispute. He says one is based on cooperation and confidence building, the other is based on confrontation. Reports from central Somali say a fierce fighting there between a pro-government militia and Islamist rebels has left at least 24 people dead and dozens others wounded. Witnesses and officials said Wednesday the fighting a day earlier was the worst (scene) in months. Bengladesh fire officials say a five-story building has collapsed in the capital of Dakar killing at least 20 people. Authority said the building toppled late Tuesday flatting surrounding homes at least 20 people were injured in the building fell. Police say it's poorly constructed. You can read details on this and more 24 hours a day. I'm Frances Alonzo VOA news.