VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuania vowed on Monday to push for extending the lifespan of its Ignalina nuclear power plant after a referendum failed to support the government’s case against EU demands to close it by the end of 2009.

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan and international troops killed 14 Taliban militants and eight civilians were killed in a series of attacks, provincial authorities and the U.S. military said Monday.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has warned a brewing row with India over the waters of the Chenab river in the disputed Kashmir region could harm improving ties between the old rivals.

British troops are no longer needed to maintain security in southern Iraq as the situation has changed, the country’s prime minister has said.

In the biggest exercise of its kind since the Cold War, Russia has followed the Saturday firing of a brand new intercontinental missile with a triple firing on Sunday, one of which was attended by President Medvedev.

Early results from the count in Lithuania’s general election give the centre-right opposition a slender lead, and a totally new party in second place, with over 50 percent of the votes counted.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The head of the Iranian delegation to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) High Level Committee (HLC) announced that the new cartel prepared a draft version of its charter at the recent HLC meeting in Caracas, Venezuela.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has urged outsiders to leave the Middle East, saying it would be the best choice before them.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Saturday insisted on the need to institutionalize party system in the country as he said party system is the need of modern world.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran says the ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan has been counterproductive, adding that the US has only managed to increase tensions.