Reuters World News Highlights at 1800 GMT, Dec 20

BEIRUT - Rebels thrust into a strategic town in Syria'scentral Hama province, activists said, pursuing a string ofterritorial gains to help cut army supply lines andcement a foothold in the capital Damascus to the south. - - - - WASHINGTON - As a year-end deadline looms, Republicans inthe U.S. House of Representatives pushed ahead with their own"fiscal cliff" plan in a move that muddles