TBILISI (Reuters) – EU ceasefire monitors in Georgia reported the dismantling of a Russian checkpoint near breakaway South Ossetia on Sunday, saying it was the “first open sign” of a promised Russian troop pullback by October 10.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Sunday and promised to reopen an embassy in Baghdad soon, the latest sign that fellow Arab nations are slowly restoring ties.

ASTANA (Reuters) – The United States is not trying to poach Russia’s allies in Central Asia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday during a visit to oil-rich Kazakhstan.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – In Iraq’s national museum a frieze shows Assyrian King Sargon II, who ruled an empire from what is now northern Iraq, storming a rampart as soldiers pile decapitated heads before him.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters collided while landing at an American combat outpost in northern Baghdad on Saturday, the U.S. military said.

Russia’s navy is gearing up to pass through the straits of Gibraltar.The four warships – including the nuclear-powered Russian heavy cruiser Peter the Great – will stop off in Libya before heading to Venezuela.

Eleven people have been killed as a suicide bomber blew himself up during an American raid in the Iraqi city of Mosul, the US military says.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Three earthquakes measuring 4, 3.3 and 3.4 on the Richter scale, respectively, jolted different areas in Iran’s southern province of Hormozgan on Saturday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran declared Saturday that it was losing trust in the six countries negotiating with it over its nuclear program following a new UN Security Council resolution against Tehran’s activities.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran said that a high-profile gas export conference in Tehran sponsored in part by two of Europe’s largest energy companies proved that the US pressures were ineffective in preventing the country from developing its vast oil and gas resources.