TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami has decided against making a third run for the office and instead will endorse another reform candidate, sources say.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Taliban insurgents pulled some 50 passengers off a bus in southern Afghanistan and beheaded as many as 30 of them after accusing them of being soldiers traveling in civilian clothes, Afghan officials in the region announced on Sunday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will on Friday announce it is cutting oil output to help lift crude prices that have dived 55 per cent since striking record highs in July, as a global economic slowdown slashes demand, analysts said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Saturday it was time for the leaders of Iraq and the United States to make up their minds on a draft agreement on the future of US troops in the country.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Israel is preparing for direct US-Iranian talks on Iran’s nuclear capability within six months if Senator Barack Obama becomes the next US President.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Management and Construction of Nuclear Plants Company said Sunday some Western countries have declared their readiness to cooperate with Iran on its second light-water nuclear plant.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An exhibition on Iran’s scientific, research and technological achievements, will be held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris from February 2-6, 2009.

NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) – Two Russian soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Caucasus region of Ingushetia on Saturday, authorities said, and unofficial sources said the death toll could be much higher.

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A suicide car bomber struck international troops near the western Afghan city of Herat Saturday, wounding five soldiers, officials said.

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian construction magnate Hesham Talaat Moustafa and a former police officer pleaded not guilty to murder and incitement charges Saturday at their trial for the killing of Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim.