TANG KHATTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani forces have killed up to 1,000 Islamist militants in fighting in the strategically important northwestern region of Bajaur this month, an army commander said Friday.

The Presidents of Venezuela and Russia have met to further tighten military and economic cooperation, in the wake of Moscow’s war with Georgia which soured relations with the US.

NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia (Reuters) – Russia said on Thursday it was ready to consider helping Venezuela develop a peaceful nuclear energy program, a gesture that will displease Washington as two of its sharpest critics draw closer.

A group of 11 European tourists and eight Egyptian guides kidnapped in Egypt’s desert have been moved to Libya, a Sudanese official has said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed that his country’s differences with the neighboring United Arab Emirates over the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf can be resolved through talks, and condemned interference in the issue by some other states.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warned here on Wednesday that the country is fully prepared for a confrontation with the US navy.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has offered to take on US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain in a debate.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Azerbaijan is sticking to plans to reduce oil exports to the EU and increase shipments to Russia and Iran, as the South Caucasus country – home to another Russia-influenced frozen conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh – seeks to spread risk.

TEHRAN (FNA)- More than one million tons of raw steel has been produced by Khuzestan Steel Company during the first six months of the current (Iranian) year.